Don Pilgrim, age 80 of Swift Current, passed away on March 2, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. We thought it fitting to share a few of the reasons why Don was such a one-of-a-kind man.
1) He was known as Pil to his friends, but his son-in-laws refer to him as The Godfather. 2) He was proud, private, generous, stubborn, sarcastic, hard of hearing, magnetic, and set in his ways. 3)
Don had a tight knit group of quick-witted friends, who loved to joke with each other over a couple of beers. 4) Don owns the most amazing collection of cowboy paraphernalia. A veritable treasure trove of boots, saddles, pictures, gun, and holsters. 5) Don loved old school country music. He was a big fan of Jim Reeves, Merle Haggard and George Jones. 6) When they were younger, Don and his best buddies cleared the land and built a cabin up in northern Saskatchewan. They had a passion for rainbow trout and runaway weekends. 7) Flying home from a fishing trip in the early 70's, Don's small engine plane crash landed in the forest. He was thrown through the windshield, where his hair and eyebrows were singed off when the engine caught fire. Against the odds, they all managed to escape before the plane exploded. 8) Don had over 25 different surgeries over the course of his life, including two full body casts. 9) He still has his 1976 Lincoln Continental Town Car, the first brand new vehicle he ever purchased. 10) Don was an accomplished snooker player, who in the early days made a living playing pool. Even up to the very end, he could still kick his son-in-law's and grandchildren's asses. 11) Don had four older sisters. He grew up, and grew old, in a household of women. 12) Back in the rum/coke and beanbag ashtray days, Don skipped on the curling rink. 13) He was an avid golfer who shot an absurdly low score of 74, at the age of 75. 14) He has been a member, and past president of the Elmwood Golf and Country Club for over 50 years. 15) Over his life, Don owned two customized golf carts. The first one had a cassette deck and headlights. The second one has ostrich leather captains chairs with a walnut grain steering wheel. 16) He worked for over 30 years for an outstanding company called Standard Nutrition, earning numerous salesman of the year awards as well as a Lifetime Achievement award. 17) Don and Shiela travelled the world with friends and work colleagues, many of whom became lifelong friends. 18) Don worked until he was 79 years old. His retirement gift was a trip to Augusta Georgia, to experience the rich history of the Masters golf tournament. 19) In 2012, he had the opportunity to golf St. Andrews in Scotland. It was the on the top of his bucket list. The only item left uncrossed on his list was the Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale. Flights were booked for January 2015, but by that time he was confined to bed. 20) Don's always been a card player, but discovered a true passion for poker alongside his grandkids and son-in-laws. Although we have no idea what we're doing, the Pilgrim sisters are known to have the best poker faces. 21) He loved the smokin' hot sun and would bake his skin to a reddish brown in a rotisserie fashion. 22) As much as Don loved his family, the light of his life were his grandchildren. Don is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Shiela, daughters Valerie and Lori, along with their husbands Ken and Scott, and grandchildren Brennan, Abby, and Nolan; and his sister Helen Friesen. Don is predeceased by parents Edward and Florence Pilgrim, and sisters Olive Roney, Vera Goertzen, and Doris Dyck.
Don's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 28 from 3:00-5:00 at the Elmwood Golf and Country Club. Donations in memory of Don Pilgrim can be made to the Cancer Research Society and the Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation. Thank you to Deb Sekerak, Julie Wellsch, and the compassionate Home Care nurses, and to Dr. Denny Johnston. As Don would say, Adios Amigos. Meet you on the other side!
Warren's Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call 306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members in our book of condolences.