David John Howe
Marine Engineer
July 17, 1917 – March 21, 2010
HOWE, David John Born July 17, 1917, to William George Howe and Effie May Begg, on the family farm at Minitonas, Manitoba. Dave passed away at Ocean View Care Facility March 21, 2010. One of 12 children, he spent his youth farming, and hunting, trapping and fishing in northern Manitoba. During the Great Depression Dave rode the rails to the Pacific Coast and back to Manitoba. Dave served in World War II with the Seaforth Highlanders as a motorcycle dispatch rider; taking part in the invasion of Sicily and the Italy campaign where he was wounded in March of 1944. He recovered and went on to take part in the liberation of Holland. During the war his parents moved to the west coast settling in North Vancouver and after the war Dave followed his family to the west coast. He went on to work on the boats as marine engineer in the herring and salmon fishery. In 1950 he married Joan Charlotte Tapping and had two sons David Geordie and John Clayton. Dave continued working on the boats serving on the Miss Juanita undertaking exploration for oil on the west and east coasts of Canada in the mid-1960s. Back in North Vancouver he worked for Kingcome Navigation, with the last voyages of his professional career on the Haida Transporter and Haida Brave. In their retirement Joan and Dave travelled extensively to Europe, Mexico and Southeast Asia before moving to White Rock in 1988. During Joan’s long battle with cancer Dave focused on the care giving until her death in April 1998. In 2005 Dave was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and spent the next four years with support at home until he moved into Ocean View Care Facility in White Rock in the fall of 2009. Never one to complain, Dave appreciated small kindnesses and always had a joke at the ready. He was a true Canadian hero and we will not see his like again. Survived by his sons’ Geordie and John; Geordie’s wife Marianne Berkey, John’s partner Penny Cooper, and dear friend Kathy Egyed. Lovingly remembered by all who knew him. A Celebration of Dave’s Life will be held later in the spring. Please contact family members for details. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia in memory of Dave.