With profound sadness the Goodwin family announce the passing of Dad in the early morning hours of May 8, 2014 at the age of 69 years.  Dad was born on January 5, 1945 in Prince Albert to Leo and Edna, the oldest of six children. Dad grew up mainly in Nesbitt Heights on the farm where he learned the value of a hard day’s work.  At 15 he began his apprenticeship, learning his lifelong craft of welding under Bill Owens of Bill’s Welding and Blacksmith Shop, becoming the youngest journeyman welder in Saskatchewan at the time.  By the age of 21 Dad was gaining experience in the trade when he met the love of his life Diane Schwan in Prince Albert.  Two years later, in 1968, they were married and welcomed their first born Curtis later that year.  Dan Jr., Michelle and Terry followed in the 1970’s. 

Dad was a craftsman in his trade. At one point or another, he held every ticket possible, with the idea that no matter the job, he would be able to work.  This included heavy wall chrome, titanium, carbon and stainless steel piping.  Dad loved to weld on pressure vessels and pressure pipe, and built his career on it. His reputation for welding perfection followed him wherever he went, and was widely respected as one of the best welders in the province.  His friends, coworkers, and employers always commented that in their experience, there was no one who worked harder, longer or was more loyal on the job. They were almost in disbelief on the perfection and skill that Dad displayed in his trade.  Dad would love to be on construction sites, and put in two or more times the production per day than welders half his age.  Later in life, after close to 50 years of welding, Dad remarked that he had welded everything possible that could be welded and had nothing more to prove to himself.  He turned his next career focus to quality control, and found a renewed love of his trade.  He would speak volumes about the opportunity he had to help younger welders on the job, weld to the best of their abilities (which Dad demanded be perfection!).  Quality control was where dad’s career ended in 2011 after his first diagnosis with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma.  He turned his focus to beating this terrible disease.  After enduring a grueling 24 hour lifesaving surgery (which turned out to be the longest facial reconstruction surgery in the University of Alberta’s history) dad faced an uphill battle to recover.  His doctors remarked at not only Dad’s outstanding physical strength during this time, but also his mental endurance and will to live.  He was the subject of a 90 minute presentation by his lead surgeon at a global conference of otolaryngologists, describing how, because of dad’s case, otolaryngologists around the globe will change the way they approach head and neck cancer cases.  He faced another challenge 4 weeks later, when Dad made the decision to amputate a portion of his left leg below his knee, rather than face another 20 hour surgery to try to rebuild it.  This decision turned out to be prudent, as it allowed the rest of his body to heal, and continue to fight. After a grueling course of radiation, and close to six months in hospital, we had Dad back. 

Dad was defined by his love for his family and his love for his work.  His children literally could do no wrong (even when they did!) and his devotion and love for them was always felt.  There was nothing that Dad wouldn’t do for his children.  He didn’t know how to say no to them. This was also true of his love for Mom. He was a devoted and loving husband for 46 years.  He was a great provider for his family all throughout his life, fixing, building, and maintaining anything and everything.  He loved to talk to people, and was a master story teller.  After Dad finished a story, there was no detail that was left undescribed.  His memory was amazing, and he was always the one to ask to recall a specific instance or story.  The love that he displayed for his grandchildren was inspiring.  One of his greatest joys was spending time with all of them, and during the last year, with his first great grandson. His family always loved and respected him, but never more than in the past 3.5 years during his cancer battle. Dad endured more and suffered enough for his entire family many times over.  The strength Dad displayed with near impossible odds of survival was amazing. We will never forget this.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Diane;  his sons: Curtis (Bonnie) and their daughter Tara, Daniel Jr. (Danielle) and son Brandon and daughters Mercedes and Jayde, Terry (Rae) and their sons Kale and Liam and daughter Allie, and his daughter Michelle and her daughter Brooke and Brooke’s son Ajay. Dad is also survived by his siblings: Ruth (Ron) Bremner, Frank (Karen) Goodwin, Anne (Marcel) Orieux, Marlene Nicolas and Carol (David) Medve; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Dad was predeceased by his father and mother Leo and Edna Goodwin. The family would like to thank Drs. Hadi Seikaly and Dan O’Connell and their entire team of head and neck cancer surgeons, specialists, and nurses who gave us 3.5 more years with Dad and allowed him to see 2 more grandchildren born and his first great grandson.  Also the staff on 3D4 who cared for Dad after his surgery were an exceptional, professional and amazing group.  We would also like to thank Dads oncologist Dr. El-Gayid and his RN Lorna Campbell for providing exceptional care and guidance with his cancer battle.  In lieu of flowers and other tributes, the family requests donations be made to the University Hospital Foundation (Specifically labeled for the head and neck cancer program) Donor Office-Room 1H1.91 WMC 8440-112 Street N.W. Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2014 – 10:00 am, Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1401 - 4th Ave. West, Prince Albert, SK with Father Matthew Nguyen officiating. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium.  Brian and Bev Stobbs, Funeral Directors.  306.763.8488  www.MacKenzieChapel.ca

Daniel's Urn is below. Thank you to his family for providing the photo.