Ian Douglas MacDonald
In the early morning of April 22, 2022, Ian Douglas MacDonald lost a brief but valiant battle against Cancer. Ian was a gentle and passionate person, who had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of the natural world, a deep love of cooking, gardening, dogs, ducks, meaningful conversation, and music. Ian’s first love however, was his wife Christine MacDonald, and in his own words he “got off on telling people how much he loved her“.
Toward the end, Ian was not afraid of death, but instead expressed gratitude for all the wonderful experiences he was able to enjoy on his journey, and for the unthinkable good fortune of meeting and marrying the love of his life, Christine MacDonald.
Days before he passed, in a quiet moment alone together, Ian requested that if asked, it would be told that the only religion or denomination of faith he followed consistently through his lifetime, was heavy metal music.
Ian has joined his father, Peter William MacDonald, and is survived by his bride Christine MacDonald (Kale, deceased). His mother, Judith Marie MacDonald, his sister Nancy Jean Dokter (Chris, Meaghan, Olivia) and his brother Thomas William Neil MacDonald (Maggie, Jane).
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society on Ian‘s behalf.
A celebration of Ian's life will be held at a later date.
Our deepest sympathies for your loss. Ian was a wonderful person and we are so blessed to have had time with him.
With love always,
Melissa,Matthew,Charlie and Jetlin
No words will ever be meaning enough for you to hear at this time. Please know that I will keep thoughts of you in my heart. I will blow smoke up to the big chief in celebration of his life and yours together.
I am gutted to hear this news. Ian was one of my best childhood friends, and was an absolute gem of a person.
Lots of fun growing up in Rio.
Best wishes to his family and Mrs Macdonald.
This is such a sad thing to wake up to. We were good friends as a kids, ripping around Rio Terrace. Little Rio Terrorists as it were, racing each other through paper routes, riding bikes furiously in Quesnel behind the embassy. Cub scouts, summer camp, Ian’s homemade Sprite! Fond memories. Very sad to see Ian has passed.
My sincere condolences to the entire MacDonald family. This is such heartbreaking news. I have many great memories of Ian growing up with him in Rio Terrace. May he Rest In Peace.
My deepest sympathies to the entire MacDonald family in this difficult time.
I am so sorry to hear of Ian’s passing, growing up we spent a lot of time together riding our bikes, playing soccer and hanging out. I still remember singing ACDC in grade 6 and he introduced me to Metallica. Heavy metal was for sure him in a nutshell. My deepest condolences go out to Mrs. Macdonald, Nancy and Neil.
Deepest condolences to the McDonald family. Big hugs to you all.
I’m raising a cold one to you, tonight Ian!
“And the earth becomes my throne.
I adapt to the unknown.
Under wandering stars I’ve grown.
By myself, but not alone…”
Metal on, Rio Terrace, Metal on…
I’m saddened to know Ian is gone, he was such a genuine, gentle and lovely person.
As our parents have been lifelong friends, I had the opportunity to spend time with him as we grew up.
Sending heartfelt hugs and comfort to Judy, his wife and family <3
My condolences to Neil and family.
I met Ian when I was 10. My family had just moved to the west end and he was my first friend. It didn’t take long for us to become thick as thieves. We quickly shared a newspaper route so we could afford to buy comics or a new game for the intelevision game console that we were so lucky to have. We played soccer together, rode our bikes around the neighbourhood and were inseparable for many years.
The teen years were equally as fun but they involved a few more shenanigans that we won’t talk about here and a lot of Metallica. We lost touch when I moved to Vancouver Island in 1993 but when I came back in 2005, he was the first person I looked up to reconnect with. He worked in Real Estate and ironically I was working towards getting my Real Estate license too. We picked up pretty much where we left off as teenagers only we spent more time going to the gym and generating business as opposed to smoking and drinking at “the Arlington” (those who know, know).
As life happened to us, we both got married, Ian changed careers and our lives drifted apart. I always had in the back of my mind that we would be brought back together sometime and it would seem like no time had passed.
Rest In Peace my oldest friend.
Neil, Maggie, Jane and the McDonald family. Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your brother. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Glenn & Glenda Lacey
So very sorry to hear about his passing. I hope you all find some comfort in sharing fond memories of him. He had a wonderful grin!
My sincere and deepest condolences to the MacDonald family. You are all in my thoughts during this difficult time.
My condolences to the MacDonald family. Thinking of you and sending you love ❤.
Our sincere condolences to all of the MacDonald family. You are in our thoughts.
Kelly & Geoff Dyer
Christine I am so sorry for your unimaginable loss. Love to you and your family my thoughts are with you❤️
Thinking of you Nancy and Chris, I only met Ian a few times but he spoke to me like we had known each other for years, such a likable, lovable guy. My deepest sympathies.
No words can truly be written that could possibly sum up the love you have for your brother, son and husband. My heart breaks for you all! Ian was an incredible human and I’m grateful to have met and spend time getting to know him. I will always remember the laughs and fun times shared in the Dokter household, always with music being played quite loud…
Sending my love and heartfelt condolences to you all.
Love from Bootsie❤️
So very sorry for your loss, MacDonald Family. May his memory forever lift you up and remind you that life is precious and short.
After many years of googling Ian’s name now and then to see what became of him this was not a page I imagined I’d find. I feel a little empty somewhere. Ian is alive in the past he and I shared. Go well brother.
Ian, my dude, my brother… I miss you so much. There is a great empty room in my heart that will echo for the rest of my days. Thanks for all things I never got to thank you for, and I’m sorry I didn’t get to have more time with you than we had together in this life. You’ve taught me as much in your death as you did in life with your deep, and well considered insights and heavy conversations.
I feel you now. I’m happy to feel your energy in the good the world offers, but I wish your stinky old shell was still here for me to have a great talk and pint with.
I love you man. Damn. So much. I miss you.
I miss you.
Not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought about Ian and the impact he’s had on my life. I’ve known him since my teens, but we weren’t close then. My connection was through his brother Neil. As we got older I got to know him better. We shared a love for similar music and my church was as his: heavy metal. I also got to know Ian as someone who thirsts for knowledge and learning, a trait I admire and hold in the highest esteem. Ian was, in my mind, a modern renaissance man. He got to know my son August and whenever they were together Ian made sure August got an extra thick cut of cake, another pop and a patient and interested ear.(Auggie just called him Uncle Ian, as I read this aloud.) Ian was engaging, gregarious, loving, and always interested in what you had to say. My condolences to his wife Christine, his sister Nancy and her family and to Neil and his family. Ian found the rainbow in the dark.
When I heard the news of Ian’s passing, it was truly heartbreaking. While I am beyond sad that he is no longer with us, I’m eternally grateful for having him in my life and the time over the years that we spent together.
I first crossed paths with Ian in elementary school at Rio Terrace, but he was a year ahead me so we weren’t exactly friends at that time. It wasn’t until my friend Chris Dokter married his sister Nancy that Ian re-entered the picture.
I had many poker games over the years with Chris and Ian that will forever be in my memory. It was here that Ian’s personality, infectious laugh, intelligence and sheer presence in the room made him a person that I loved to be around. The common love of metal music was the cherry on top and the discussions on just about anything were awesome. Going to my first Metallica concert with him was also a highlight.
My wife Lita and I wish Christine, the MacDonald family, the Dokter family and all others who were close to Ian our deepest condolences for this loss. We send our love and support to everyone.
Ian was such a wonderful man. All you had to do was be in the same room as him and Christine to know how much they loved each other. I could only be so lucky to find that in my life. Ian was a good friend and would help out people whenever he could. I miss you my friend.
Deepest condolences to the MacDonald family. I only recently found out about Ian’s passing. Ian was a fun, smart, and kind person. I have so many great memories of spending time with Ian back when we were kids, especially at McKernan Junior High School. Those memories will live on, as will Ian’s spirit. I’m grateful to have been able to call him a friend. Rest in peace, Ian.
Condolences to everyone in the MacDonald family. Old friend, you will be missed but not forgotten. Growing up together is a gift that I will cherish. Your humour, passion and intelligence along with your love of music… a real gem of a person.