Weisbeck – Donald Beverly Weisbeck was born in Kamloops, B.C. on May 1, 1949, the oldest of John and Mary Weisbeck’s four children. His early years were spent in Kamloops and at the ranch at Red Lake. He married Linda Waite on April 5th, 1969. He attended the University of B.C. and received an Honours degree in economics. Don spent the next eighteen months working for the government of Saskatchewan as a budget analyst and later for the Department of Northern Affairs in La Ronge. He returned to UBC to attain his masters degree. Following this the family moved to Yellowknife, N.W.T. where he worked for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The family moved to Whitehorse, Yukon in 1986 where Don worked for the Yukon government’s Department of Tourism. In 1988 the family moved to Brooks to build and operate McDonald’s Restaurant. In 1998 during his stint as a three term mayor, the BSE crisis hit. He also moved Brooks into city status in 2005. Don wrote 435 columns for the Medicine Hat News and the Brooks Regional. During these years some of his contributions to the community were as one of the founding members of the Brooks Food Bank. Brooks Women’s Shelter, Habitat for Humanity Brooks District, Wildrose Party, Brooks Crime Stoppers, Brooks Police Commission and Brooks and District Drug Task Force. He served as chair for Ashton’s Place Youth Centre, on the board of the Reform party, and served as a fundraiser for the World Cup of Curling. On a quieter note he mentored a youth through SPEC. In 2008 Don completed his real estate course and was currently working in that field. Over the years Don owned several rental properties. Don took great pride in maintaining his yard and enjoyed seeing how much he could produce from pots and a small back yard garden plot. He had recently joined the Good Sam camping group, he enjoyed the steak suppers at the legion on Friday nights and the pot lucks at the Prairie Pioneers. One group that meant a lot to him was the 7:30 Investment Club where he could share his ideas on the stock market. One of the most recent groups Don was appointed to was the Community Foundation of Alberta, where he was currently a member of the board. In his free time he was a political junkie, enjoyed following the stock market and was a sports fan. Don is survived by wife Linda, son Derek & Joelle, Ethan, Jaxon and Camden; daughter Karen, Ari and Solomon, his parents John & Mary Weisbeck, sister Carole Ann & Mike; brothers Rodney & Lynette; Fred, sister’s-in-law Alvena (Jerry); Lynda; Darlene (Joe); and Bonny (Jim). He also has many aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his in-laws Alvin & Jessie Waite and brother-in-law Kenneth. Travel was one of Don’s passions and he and Linda had many enjoyable trips. What he treasured most in the last nine years was the arrival of each of his five grandsons and took every opportunity to spend his free time with them. Don enjoyed life and packed so much into his 64 years. A Memorial Service was held on Friday, January 24th at 2:00 PM from Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor John Theiss Officiated. In memory of Don, if family or friends desire, memorial donations may be made to either Lifeline Haiti by mail to 1008 College Drive SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7J1 or Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta by visiting www.cfsea.ca or by calling (403) 527-9038. The Memorial Service may be viewed online by visiting the obituary page at www.thomsfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of THOM’S FUNERAL HOME AND RECEPTION CENTRE. For further information please call (403) 501-1010.
