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Douglas Flint

Image by Nick Andréka

REV. DOUGLAS PAUL FLINT

April 25, 1933 – September 14, 2021

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Doug Flint, aged 88 years, on September 14, 2021, at the Grace General Hospital, following a brief illness.

 

Doug will be lovingly remembered by his son Gordon (Lynda); step-daughters, Robin (David), and Bonnie; grandchildren, Trevor, Michelle (Geoff), Christopher (Delaney) Cameron, Andrew, and Naomi; great-grandchildren, Roman, Jaxson, Thomas, Addilyn, and Jude; and by his brother George and his wife Beverly. Doug was predeceased by his wife Phyllis; his parents; his son Ken; his brother John; sisters-in-law, Margaret and Shirley; brother-in-law David and his wife Coralie. Doug will also be missed by many nieces and nephews and their families.

 

Doug was the youngest of three sons born to Ross and Charlotte (Grant) Flint. Doug grew up in Toronto attending high school at Lawrence Park Collegiate and graduating from Civil Engineering at University of Toronto in the mid-50s. Doug worked on the original highway 400/401 interchange and although he found his work interesting, he felt a strong calling to ministry. Doug changed course, returned to the U of T at Emmanuel College, and completed his Masters of Divinity in 1960.  After marrying Enid Bowyer, they moved to Kelvington, Saskatchewan to begin Doug’s career as an Ordained Clergy with the United Church of Canada. With dedication and care Doug would serve the communities of Kelvington; Markdale and Norwich, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and retire from Steinbach, Manitoba in 1997.

 

During the early years of Doug’s calling, the family would grow with the birth of Gordon (1963) and Kenneth (1965). While living in Winnipeg, Doug met Phyllis McKenzie (Serle) and they married in 1980. Doug and Phyllis loved and accepted each other’s children as their own.  As the family grew, each new member was warmly welcomed with open arms and unlimited love.

 

Doug was keenly interested in “everything”!  He was a deep thinker, concerned citizen, and engaged member of his communities, as wide as he perceived that community to be. After official retirement, Doug was a dedicated volunteer with West Broadway Community Ministry.  He also took Sunday services for many churches in Winnipeg, and surrounding communities, as well as performing weddings and funerals for past-parishioners.

 

Doug grew up as a loyal fan of all sport teams Toronto. That love of sports would expand over time to being a fan of both the Winnipeg Jets and the Blue Bombers. He also enjoyed both golf and curling and curled with the Chaplains Curling League for a number of years. He also loved to paint and he created many beautiful gifts and pieces of art from the landscape photos he shot on his travels. 

 

Doug loved travelling and he was avid enthusiast of all things train/railway related. When he could combine both of these interests, he was in his glory. He and Phyllis enjoyed exploring the east cost of Canada with his sons, and later were able to travel by train across Canada and the US Midwest and east coast, by ship down the St. Lawrence, cruise through the Panama Canal, to Alaska, and up the east coast to see fall colours. He was also a voracious reader, enjoying the newspaper from cover to cover every day, and waiting for his favorite mystery writers - Ian Rankin and Louise Penny – to publish a new book.

 

Above all, after retirement, the little cottage at Dunnottar was a haven and retreat and many friends and family enjoyed a summer afternoon there, chatting, playing Rummoli or Canasta, enjoying a cool beverage and sharing in a barbecued dinner or ribs at the Emporium. A hot summer afternoon could be spent in the gazebo where a cool breeze blew off the water and where a good book waited to be read while Charlie the Cat purred beside him. Doug enjoyed the cottage to the end.

 

A private memorial service was held at Young United Church and interment will follow at a later date in Neepawa. Doug’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West Broadway Community Ministry, 102-222 Furby Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2A7 or a charity of one’s choice.

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

Memories, Stories and Condolences

 

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Ken DeLisle

September 28, 2021 at 6:26 PM

Prayers and sympathy to Doug's family and friends.  I met Doug at Young United and we both were involved with social justice issues.  He was very supportive of LGBTQ2S+ community and West Broadway.  His compassion and wisdom endures in our hearts and memories.

B Tigchelaar

September 26, 2021 at 4:39 PM

Condolences to the families. We met Doug and Phyllis at Dunnottar. A true gentleman.

Robin Newton

September 25, 2021 at 6:31 PM

I want to thank those who contributed to Doug’s memorial service in any way and I want to thank everyone who has sent kind words and thoughts our way. Doug was so well loved and I have hundreds of  photos to remember him by. He performed our wedding back in 1982 and hundreds more I’m sure. Please feel free to share a wedding or baptismal photo. He loved being part of those sacred life moments. May you all be truly blessed!  - Robin & Dave Newton

Bob Galston

September 25, 2021 at 3:06 PM

Doug was a good friend. He helped me build my cottage back in about 1970. I was privileged to perform his marriage to Phyllis in 1980. After Phyllis died we vowed to get together again but COVID-19 changed all that. We will all miss him.

Sheryl Fowler

September 24, 2021 at 4:42 PM

Our sincere condolences to Doug’s family. Serle and I always enjoyed getting together with Doug and Phyllis. They were both so pleasant and positive and interesting conversationalists. We would meet them at Assiniboine park for lunch or at Fort Whyte for lunch and a nature hike. I would also see them at the symphony for both classical and pops concerts. We also appreciate what a fine artist he was and own one of his paintings. Sheryl and Serle Fowler (Serle is a cousin of Phyllis)

barry k morris

September 24, 2021 at 1:28 AM

Knew Doug as a minister/colleague and darn fine at that - in and beyond active ministry; he would work a crowd, too, table by table, person by person asking and listening for "how are you?". An earnest soul who prayed that way, on his knees and told stories of Timmy and Tammy! Yes? We corresponded and though I rarely deciphered his artistic scrawl, I felt his passion and mutuality. Indeed. May he rest in the peace of the resurrection. May that engineers' ring accompany him, too. Blessed be his memory....via Barry  Morris  

Karen E. Toole

September 22, 2021 at 10:42 PM

Doug was man of true integrity in his quest for justice and simply in his way of being.  I wish I had known him better.  I always trusted him!  Karen Toole

Erin

September 22, 2021 at 12:42 AM

So sad to hear of Doug’s passing. He was a sweet and gentle man. He will be missed. Hugs to you! Erin, Scott and Lexi.
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