DAVID LAWRENCE ANDERSON

David Lawrence Anderson was born on July 8, 1940, in Minnedosa, Manitoba, to Samuel Glover and Dorothy Jean Anderson. He was the younger brother of Barrie James Anderson. Not long after David was born, the family moved to Pilot Mound, Manitoba, and it was there that he truly grew his roots and began a lifetime of friendships, passions, and memories.

As a young boy, David loved sports. He played both baseball and hockey with the Pilot Mound Pilots and was part of teams that won the provincial Bantam BB and AB hockey championships in 1954 and 1955. He was also active in the St. John’s Youth Church Choir, which was a championship choir in its own right. In 1950, the choir travelled to Winnipeg to perform.

Dad often spoke fondly of one of his first jobs as a teenager, washing and waxing cars at the local car lot. That early experience sparked a lifelong love of automobiles, particularly the cars of the 1950s. His love of classic cars would remain with him throughout his entire life.

David and his brother Barrie also shared a passion for photography. They had their own darkroom and photographed portraits and local weddings. It was another example of Dad’s creativity and his enjoyment of making things and capturing memories.

Dad graduated from Pilot Mound Collegiate in 1959, where he was honoured to be chosen as valedictorian by his classmates. Music was also an important part of his life. Dad played bass and was a member of a band called the Chromatics, which later became the Fanthoms. They played at local school dances in Pilot Mound and Crystal City. During this time, Dad also worked at Macleod’s store.

In the early 1960s, Dad moved to Winnipeg to pursue his electrician’s education, with the goal of working for Manitoba Hydro, just as his father and grandfather had before him. He would stay in Winnipeg during the week and drive back to Pilot Mound on weekends.

He eventually achieved his goal and began his career with Manitoba Hydro. It was during this time that he met Marlene and her three children, Kathy, Wendy, and Doug. David and Marlene were married in 1969, and David adopted her three children. Five years later, in 1974, they welcomed a child of their own, Jim.

Dad had many interests and talents over the years. He was an avid curler, and in 1972 he was the lead on skip Gordon Currie’s team when they won the Monarch Life Trophy.

He was also a lifelong hockey fan. He loved the Winnipeg Jets and supported the Moose during the years when the Jets were gone. He was thrilled when the Jets finally returned to Winnipeg.

Dad was an avid model builder, especially enjoying building models of First and Second World War airplanes and classic cars. His creativity extended beyond model building as well. During his retirement, he made custom lamps as retirement gifts for fellow Manitoba Hydro employees.

Marlene and David divorced in the 1980s, but they continued to live only a few blocks apart and remained good friends. Neither of them ever remarried.

After retiring from Manitoba Hydro in 1996, Dad returned to one of his earliest passions: music. He began taking bass lessons again and spent countless hours playing along with the rock and roll music he loved. He recorded cd’s of himself playing bass along with his favorite rock and roll hits.  

He attended many concerts with family when the old 1950s acts came through Winnipeg. Seeing artists such as The Platters, Bill Haley’s Original Comets, Elvis and Roy Orbison tributes, and many others. Those concerts gave Dad a chance to reconnect and share the music and era he loved so much.

Ironically, Dad had developed a phobia about eating in restaurants when he was young, but he certainly made up for it in his later years. He enjoyed going to Susie Q’s Diner, the old pizza place at Grant Park, A&W, and, perhaps most of all, the Zellers Big Z Diner.

His white Sunbird could often be found parked at Grant Park Mall from 11 in the morning until 6 in the evening. And on Sunday nights, you could often find Dad walking around the Pony Corral Classic Car Show, taking in all the cars he loved so much and chatting with old and new friends he would make there.

Dad loved spoiling us at christmas, with the most meticulously wrapped presents you have ever seen. He truly was a pro. That was Dad. when he did a project, he did it right. no shortcuts.

Dad loved collecting records and movies, and he could spend hours watching his DVDs, sometimes right into the early hours of the morning. His movie collection reflected his passions. He loved 1950s rock and roll movies such as Rock Around the Clock, Don’t Knock the Rock, Rock, Rock, Rock!, Don’t Knock the Twist, and American Graffiti. He had all 31 Elvis Presley movies, and he also enjoyed comedies like Grumpy Old Men and old Westerns.

In many ways, Dad’s love of the 1950s and its culture shaped his interests and personality throughout his entire life. His apartment was almost like stepping back in time. He had a three-quarter-size jukebox, dozens of classic car models displayed in a glass showcase, and pictures of Elvis and Roy Orbison on the walls, alongside photographs of his children and grandchildren.

At the age of 80, Dad was diagnosed with early dementia. By the time he was 82, he needed to move into a care home for his safety. His final years were spent at Riverview Health Centre, where he had his own room, his own television and CD player, Elvis CDs, and pictures of Elvis and his family on the walls.

And, fittingly, music stayed with him right to the very end.

During his final days, we played Elvis Presley’s #1 Hits album for him. Although Dad was unresponsive, when Hound Dog came on, something remarkable happened. His hands came up to his head, and he pushed them through his hair.

That was Dad.

A man who loved music, classic cars, hockey, curling, movies, photography, building things, and, above all, the era that had shaped him.

David passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026. He leaves behind the memories of a life filled with music, family, friendship, creativity, and the things he loved.

We will miss him deeply, but we can take comfort knowing that he is now at peace and reunited with his loved ones in heaven.

And perhaps somewhere, there is a jukebox playing Elvis.

David leaves behind to cherish his memory his children and grandchildren: Wendy (Katie and Carter); Doug (BriAnne, Lauren, and Erik); and Jim and his wife, Nicole (Sam and Ellie). He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Joyce, and her family: Brian, Dawn, and her husband, Mike.

David’s request was to ‘come home to rest’, so he will be interred in Pilot Mound, and a Celebration of David’s Life will be held on Friday, October 30, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at the Rockwood ANAVETS, 341 Wilton Street, Winnipeg.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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