Donald Dean MacDonald

On Friday, February 7, 2025, Donald ‘Dean’ MacDonald went peacefully to be reunited with his beloved wife Lorraine (Babcock) (2023). He will be forever cherished by his children Lynne VanderVeeken (Terry), Kim Gilhuly (Todd), Jill Provost and Eric MacDonald (Angie) and his grandchildren Katherine (Adam) Lachance, Elizabeth VanderVeeken, Evan Gilhuly, Christin Barr (Marv), Kelly Provost and Aiden, Holden and Ewan MacDonald. Dear Great-Grandfather of Leah, Wesley and Theo. Son of the late Eric and Eleanor MacDonald and survived by his dear sister Margaret Ann Heath. Dean will be fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews and extended family. From a very young age, Dean was the owner operator of Mac Construction, Elric Contractors and Elcon Engineering. His companies designed and built many commercial buildings around Chatham Kent and Lambton County. Dean was a member of the Ten-Op group that was instrumental in bringing a Holiday Inn Hotel to Wallaceburg which is now the Oaks Retirement Hotel. He retired when he was fifty to spend more time with family and friends. He was a supporter of Wallaceburg throughout all his retirement years. He served on the Economic Development Commission for a few years. He held many positions on the Board of Directors of Sydenham District Hospital. He has been a member of The Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Canada Lodge No. 312 for more than 60 years and a proud member of The Mocha Shriners, London for many years. Dean was a volunteer ambassador for Wallaceburg throughout his life. Dean was the son of a ship builder (Mac Craft) and naturally purchased several different boats over the years – both fiberglass and wooden. He enjoyed several years of boating. Dean also enjoyed restoring antique vehicles over the years. He restored fire trucks, army vehicles and a jeep. The vehicles were sold and transported to New York, Michigan and Europe. In his later years he enjoyed many day trips with his wife all over Southwestern Ontario and Michigan. Together they travelled many kilometers. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the Haycock-Cavanagh Funeral Home, 409 Nelson Street in Wallaceburg (519-627-3231). If you wish to make a donation in his memory, please consider the Trinity United Church in Wallaceburg or the CKHA – Sydenham Campus. Cherished stories and tributes may be left for the family at www.CavanaghFuneralHome.ca