Obituary of Alexander Daniel McLean Matheson

MATHESON: Alexander Daniel McLean Matheson, 91 years of age, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his residence at Hillcrest Personal Care Home on May 16, 2016. Alex was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. He was very active in sports in his youth excelling in swimming, diving, soccer and lacrosse. Alex served in the armed forces for 33 years, enlisting in July 1943. During his service, he was a pilot, a parachute instructor, and an officer in the Royal Canadian Dragoons, an Armoured Corps Regiment. His military service took him to many places including Korea, Cyprus, Laos and South Vietnam. Alex retired in 1975 with the rank of Colonel as Base Commander of CFB Shilo. Alex married the love of his life, Margaret (Peggy) Clark, on May 31, 1947. They were very happily married for 68 amazing years and raised four terrific boys. Following his retirement from the military, Alex was employed as an illustrator at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon - a job he thoroughly enjoyed for ten years. Alex was very active in his community. He was president of the 1979 Canada Winter Games. He was a long serving member of the Brandon Rotary Club and member of the Royal Canadian Legion #3. He enjoyed playing the bagpipes, public speaking, painting and making wonderful personalized cards for family and friends and was an active member of the local calligraphy club. Alex is survived by his wife, Peggy, four sons - Dan (Judy), Bruce (Sheila), Gordon (Marie), and Murray (Karen). Grandchildren - Sarah (Mike), Rob, Kelsey (Tim) and Brittany (Patrick), Scott (Amanda), Graeme, Kristine (Paul), Stuart (Sandra), Andrew (Amanda) and great-grandchildren: Abaigeal, Calum, Annabelle, Jolene, and Connor. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Jean Thomson and Doreen Matheson and numerous nieces and nephews. Alex is preceded in death by his only brother Brum, his parents Murdock and Catherine (Moore) Matheson, sister-in-law Ina Morson and her husband Mike, brother-in-law Lloyd Thomson, brother-in-law Burt Clark, brother-in-law Norman Clark (and wife Sheila). The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 21st at 2:00 p.m. at St. Matthew's Anglican Cathedral, 403-13th Street, Brandon, MB. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 4B-457-9th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 1K2, Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Ave. East, Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3 or the Commonwealth Air Training Museum, Box 3, Grp. 520, RR #5, Brandon, MB, R7A 5Y5. May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall softly upon your fields until we meet again, And may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.