Obituary of Patrick Winston MacElheren

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Patrick MacElheren, longtime resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, on Friday, August 25, 2023, at the age of 79 years.

Dad was born in Elphinstone Manitoba on January 20, 1944, to parents, William and Annie MacElheren. Dad started to work at a very young age at what would become a lifelong career for him in construction and mechanics.

When dad was a young man, he moved to Whitecourt, Alberta where he met the love of his life Mary. They were married in 1965 in Whitecourt, Alberta and moved shortly afterwards to Whitehorse, Yukon. In 1966. They welcomed their first child a daughter Patricia, followed in 1967 by their first son Shane and in 1972 a second son William was born. Dad moved to remote camps in British Columbia working for Keen Construction on a railway project to Dease Lake.  We lived as a family in these remote camps, and as my memory recalls we enjoyed some of the best times we had in our lives.  Dad loved fishing, and the rivers were where we spent lots of our downtime as a family, having picnics as dad‘s other brothers worked there as well with their families. When that construction job came to an end, dad worked with various construction companies along the Alaska Highway and the reconstruction project that straightened the highway and made it what it is today. The last camp we worked at was just south of Fort Nelson.  Dad moved his family to Dawson Creek BC. In 1983 they welcomed their third son Daniel, and our family was complete. Dad worked at various different projects, including coal mines, gold mines, road construction and silica mines.   He worked right up into his 70s until his health required that he quit working and hang up his tools.

Dad and Mom had purchased a piece of land just outside Dawson Creek and dad spent many of his retirement years running his favourite 1955 Massey Harris tractor with an old one way on the back. Dad was a larger-than-life character. He was strong, kind, hard-working, honest, and fair man. Dad loved more than anything for the family to sit down and have a big turkey dinner. It was one of his favourite things in the world unless, of course it was coming to his daughter’s house, the one time that she decided not to cook a traditional turkey dinner. I deboned the turkey, stuffed it and rolled it, and that day started his insistence to Mum that she cook a separate turkey when they were invited over to my house just in case I was doing something stupid with the turkey.

Dad passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of August 25, 2023.

Dad was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years Mary, his parents, William and Annie MacElheren, his brothers, Lloyd, David, and Reginald.

He is survived, and lovingly remembered by his daughter, Patricia (Frank), sons Shane (Roxeanne), William and Daniel; grandchildren Harley Anne, Sean, Rose (Justin), William (Taylor), Michael (Annie), Madison, Tyrel, Keylee, Sevyn, Soryn, Sylvia, Grayson, and great granddaughter Zaylee; brother Richard (Linda) and sister Betty Ann (Ron) and many numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Patrick to the Dawson Creek & District Oncology Unit, 11100-13 St, Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 3W8

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium