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Oct. 26, 2021 Farm Foundation reports:
Gary Andrew MacDonald: Gary, Freckles, Garney, Gar, GarAndy, Woody, Gary Mac, G-Mac, G, Bro, Dad, Daddio, Grandpa. After a long battle with a brain disease, Gary passed away peacefully on Oct 14, 2021 with family by his side. Remembered lovingly by his wife Marg, children Christopher (Karen) and Joanna, grandchildren Bennett, Pierce, and Sloane, stepson Andy Clarke (Bea), brothers Allan (Arlene), John (Eleanor), Scott (Tracey), Marg's Poplar Family, and the many (many) MacDonald cousins and relatives all over North America. Gary was the second of four boys, born in Truro, Nova Scotia to Joe and Anne MacDonald, each from families of 16 and 12 kids respectively. Gary grew up in Brantford, Ontario where he first learned the bagpipes at the age of 10 and started playing sports. At Brantford Collegiate Institute, Gary excelled at football and track and field. Gary attended the Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario from 1970-1974, where he also played on the varsity football team and won a national championship with the UWO rugby team. Gary moved to Winnipeg in 1976 to join the family business and spent the next four decades investing his passion in the employees, partners, and customers; helping grow MacDon into a global leader of harvesting equipment. His office door always open, Gary Mac lived what he believed, business isn't about business; it's about people. Following in the footsteps of his father, Joe, Gary enjoyed his involvement with ag industry associations such as CFIEI, EMI, AEM, and Farm Foundation. Gary and Joan lovingly raised their family in Winnipeg. Gary was a devoted Dad to Christopher and Joanna, tying hockey skates, watching Highland dance competitions, tuning bagpipes, and carpooling across the city. Suit up - show up, work hard - play hard, make time for family and others. Dad didn't tell us how to live, he lived and let us watch him do it. During his Winnipeg years, Gary was a strong community supporter. A proud member of the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band for over 40 years, he also enjoyed teaching kids on Saturday mornings with the Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band. Not deterred by the absence of an invitation, he rarely missed an opportunity to strike up the pipes; the annual ALS walk, Grey Cups, weddings, parties, business conferences, and even playing on stage with Sir Paul McCartney. A provincial rugby champion with the Saracens RFC, Woody helped build Maple Grove Rugby Park and enjoyed the camaraderie of SNAFU weekends and coaching high school rugby. In 1999, he was a chair with the Pan Am Games. In everything he did, Gary brought a fun-loving attitude and developed meaningful relationships with those around him. Later in life, Garney reconnected with Marg and enjoyed winters in Arizona (hiking up Daisy Mountain), summers in Collingwood (hiking up Blue Mountain), and gatherings with family and friends around the barbecue and the hot tub (trunks optional). The intensity and compassion with which Gary lived his life carried through his final years; determined to walk and laugh every day. His final act of giving to others, he has donated his brain to the study of cerebral amyloid angiopathy at Sunnybrook Hospital. Tweet |
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