Obituary of Douglas Arnold Greentree

November 13, 1939 – January 16, 2019

Douglas Arnold Greentree, 79, of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away on January 16, 2019, surrounded by his wife and children, in Grande Prairie, AB. He now rests in the joy of his Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Doug was born in Grande Prairie, to Richard and Iola Greentree on November 13, 1939. He and his siblings were raised on a small farm near Dimsdale, just outside of Grande Prairie.

He attended grade school at the Lucky Tree school in Dimsdale and finished his schooling in Grande Prairie. At 16, Doug left home to join his two brothers, Jack and Jerry, working at a sawmill in Valemont, BC. It was there he met life long friends, Doug McEachern and Bob Uswell.

Through the years he continued working in sawmills, became a millwright, worked on numerous drilling rigs, owned grocery stores in Fox Creek and Slave Lake, homesteaded in New Fish Creek, worked as a truck driver and cat skinner for various oilfield companies. He became a pilot as a young man and passed on his love for it to others by becoming a flight instructor.

Doug was highly respected by his friends, family and colleagues for his honesty, integrity, knowledge and honorable work ethic. He was regarded as one of the best heavy equipment operators in the country. He took great pride in his work and his good name.

Doug is survived by his wife, Judith, four children, Bev (Darcy Haire), DeAnna (Darcy Ratzlaff), Thomas (Tennille) and Wade (Janet). His nine grandchildren, Ashley (Dan Lemmon), Jayce Strebchuk, Victoria (Stan Hogg), Marlee Ratzlaff, Sierra Greentree, Ethan Greentree, Sam Greentree, Micah Greentree and Benjamin Greentree and two great-grandchildren, Kai and Audra Lemmon.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Iola Greentree; brothers, Jerry and David; sister-in-law Shirley Greentree, brother-in-law Tom Hanham, niece Trenna Scott and nephew Peter Hanham and his father and mother-in-law, Thomas and Edith McDaniels.

A Celebration of Life service for Doug will be held at People’s Church, 11850 – 108 Street, Grande Prairie on February 2^nd, at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Prairie Lake Hospice, c/o Grande Prairie Hospice Palliative Care Society, Box 21215, Grande Prairie, AB  T8L 6W7

We wish to thank the loving staff at the GP Cancer Clinic, the Prairie Lake Hospice, and Bear Creek Funeral Home for the care, compassion and support for Doug and his family through the years.  We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has walked this journey with us, supported us, held all of us up in prayer and were a shoulder to lean on.  We are blessed.

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com