Known to friends as Dave and to family as Randy (a name he hated). Dave passed away at home with his sister and brother-in-law present at the age of 67.  He died with his family, and being part of our family!

 

Dave was predeceased by his father John David Knox(Dave) in March of 1985 and his mother Elsie Ketola, Knox, Thomas in August 2004. He is left to be mourned by his sister Lisa-Beth Bittner ( Eric Bittner); niece Serena Bittner; and nephew Nelson Bittner (all of Winnipeg). Dave will also be mourned by aunties Laura Losier (Ontario), Leona Knox (Lac Du Bonnet, MB), Violet Fraser (Great Falls, MB) as well as many cousins and friends that meant a lot to him, in Manitoba and on Vancouver Island.

 

Dave passed away at home, not in a hospital or care home, which was important to him. He had a hard life. He had broken his back in 1998, but lived his life for many years in B.C, only returning to Manitoba seven years ago, when he could not manage on his own although he always felt at home in the mountains and in the bush,as it was in his blood. 

 

Dave was definitely a child of the 60's “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll!” He loved the Blues and Classic Rock. He enjoyed fishing at Pointe du Bois and sleeping in the veranda at the cottage.  He would sleep out there until we turned off the water in October and told him it’s time to come home! He enjoyed hearing the birds, the howls of wolves, and the deer coming through the yard. As well as, the odd bear or two that wandered through. The sounds of the wind in the trees and the sounds of nature meant a lot to him! Dave loved fishing and was happiest out in his little boat on the North Shore of the Winnipeg River.

 

We, as a family, did all we could to facilitate his quality of life for as long as possible. He liked to fish in the summer and work on making canes, walking sticks and wood burning, in the winter. He also enjoyed visiting with friends at the Curtis to watch baseball, soccer, and curling as well as participating in the meat draws and sipping a shot of scotch.  In the summer he liked to fish but when it was too windy for fishing, he enjoyed listening to CBC radio, especially the Randy Bachman Vinyl Tap Show or visiting with friends at Drifters, in Lac Du Bonnet.

 

He spent the winters in the City playing crib with his sister and walking in Kildonan Park. Many winter mornings he would go to Sal’s on Henderson Hwy for a cinnamon bun and coffee. Although, he was generally not a social person, he really enjoyed these places and these people.

 

We, as a family, would like to thanks all those who took the time to get to know Dave through sharing a story, a smile, a drink, or just the time of day. Thanks!  You helped give Dave something he really needed... friendship, so thanks again!

 

He had two things he fully believed and said often “A gun without bullets is just a club!” and “Catch you on the flip side!”

 

So yup brother, we love you and miss you already but, “We’ll catch you on the flip side!”

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