Derek Edwin McGonigal
August 30, 1942 - November 14, 2013
As published in the December 9, 2013 World-Spectator
Derek Edwin McGonigal, compassionate husband of Mary McGonigal of Moosomin, Saskatchewan and caring father of Mishell, father-in-law of Brent Usick and grandfather of Sydney and Dalton of Fort McMurray, Alberta, passed away with Mary by his side on Thursday, November 14, 2013, after a brief battle with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer at the age of 71.
Derek was born on August 30, 1942 and was the 13th child of 20 born to Eliza and Isaac McGonigal of the Red Jacket area. He attended Coppice Hill country school and Moosomin High School. He did very well in the country but hated town school with all the "strangers." He often spoke of the fellows, with appreciation, who were good to him when he attended town school. He quit school, as most young boys did back then; his first job was working on a farm for a neighbor, Johnny Currie. Even in recent years, Derek loved to go to the Currie farm and look at the tractors. He worked for Jack Baker as a Cat operator in the mid 60’s which was seasonal work. In winter he worked in Regina at Empringham’s Catering where he learned all about cutting meat and took pride in making the plate look nice.
On November 9, 1968, Derek married the love of his life and partner of 45 years, Mary Gibson of the McAuley area. In 1969, with the birth of their daughter Mishell, Derek became a proud father. He would watch her sleep waiting for her to wake up.
In the spring of 1969 Derek worked for the Rural Municipality of Moosomin as a Cat operator. His supervisor was his brother Melvin. They built several roads that we drive on today. Melvin and Derek operated Cat and buggy or sometimes a turnapole. Brothers Lawrence and Delbert were the grader operators. The four worked well together and in the spring they could be found at the shed pulling apart the equipment and servicing it for the summer’s work.
In 1975, Derek and Mary purchased their present home and Derek began working at the Co-op Feed Mill where he was head of his shift for many years, retiring in March 2003.
Over the years, Derek and Mary enjoyed camping and fishing-especially at Lake of the Prairies and in Northern Saskatchewan. He caught two "big ones" in his lifetime. He enjoyed attending local fowl suppers, dances, and family gatherings or visiting with friends. Derek was very proud of Mary’s organizational skills, especially the first ever McGonigal Reunion in 1988, the McGonigal birthday calendar in 2001 which he helped with, and he loved the Coppice Hill reunion in 2001. He enjoyed the fellowship at the meetings as much as the events! He enjoyed paint by numbers, scroll sawing, scratch art and pencil sketching. He was good at building with wood. Mary would measure and mark and he would cut and nail. He took pride in their yard and garden. He could often be seen washing the vehicle, snow blowing, or even cutting grass in his white shirt! He said he wouldn’t get dirty! He loved his white shirts, blue jeans and cowboy boots.
Derek enjoyed cars; especially loved the Chevs and Fords of the late 50’s and early 60’s. He was proud of the 1963 Ford Galaxy 500 XL that he owned and also his 1959 Pontiac Laurentian that he had his last ride in on November 2. He enjoyed the cruise nights that Mary organized from 2008 to 2013. Besides the thrill of looking at each of the cruise vehicles, he loved it when we did the u-turns and met each other with a wave or a toot of the horn.
In July 1995 Mishell married Brent Usick and he was proud of their career choices and the success they share. The proud grandpa shone through as the grandchildren were born-Sydney and Dalton. Grandpa loved to watch each of them as they went through the younger years. He loved the little things they said and of course would spoil them a little. What the heck! He loved taking them camping, helping them take the first fish off their hook or watching their marshmallows catch on fire. He loved watching Dalton light the fire and Sydney toasting the peanuts. Grandpa was proud of Dalton, and thankful to his good friend Dennis, when Dalton learned to water ski at Brown’s Den at Moosomin Lake. In winter months it was a nice trip to Fort McMurray to watch both grandchildren play hockey. He enjoyed watching Dalton downhill ski and Sydney snowboard.
Derek was a bit nervous of flying at first but in recent years, it became his choice of longer distance travel. He and Mary traveled quite a bit over the years: by train to Thompson and Churchill, to B.C. by train; to Branson and Nashville on a bus tour; to Honolulu, Puerto Vallarta, Vegas, Maui for the past three winters and three trips to Ireland where they toured the country and visited family members. It was a real thrill for Derek to meet his mother’s family whom he had heard about all his life! It was great to stay in his Grandma Richardson’s last house. On his 65th birthday, they spent time at the shipyard in Belfast where his parents left from in 1929. They toured Scotland and spent a couple of days in London, England. They toured Alaska in the fall of 2012 which was Derek’s dream place to visit. He was looking forward to touring Switzerland and Holland in September 2013 but it wasn’t meant to be.
Derek accepted his disease in his stride and said that he would rather go through it himself than watch someone else suffer. He said that he had a good life and that everything would be okay. He is remembered as a kind and gentle man with lots of patience. He loved to tease and got a kick out of people’s reactions. He loved nature and enjoyed his early morning coffee outside in summer or in Maui, listening to the birds, recognizing their various songs. He smoked for 50 years and met many new friends while smoking when we travelled. Other than that one spot of cancer, doctors said that his lungs were "clear as a bell". Upon diagnosis, Derek began planning his funeral, choosing his pallbearers: Lane Brown, Peter Currie, Ronnie Fawcett, Doug Jeffers, Fredy McDougall and Dennis McGonigal (Rosetown). The honorary pallbearers (friends for over 50 years): Harvey and Yvonne McDougall, George and Doreen Roy, Kenny and Judy Woods.
The funeral service was held on Wednesday,
November 20 at the Moosomin Baptist Church with Dr. Mel Konkel officiating. Gladys and Phillip Huberdeau attended the guest register and then Gerald Unger and Dale Chadney ushered the guests. Elaine (Brown) Hill capably reminisced about Derek’s life. Annabelle Beckett, a former neighbour, was the pianist. Dale Smart played the carefully chosen music. The prelude was artists whom Derek and Mary had seen in concerts over the years.
Derek is survived by his life partner, Mary; daughter Mishell and husband Brent Usick; grandchildren Sydney and Dalton; his brothers: Norman (Rose), Lawrence, Reg (Barb), Glen (Ilene), Dale (Carol); sisters: Jean Roy, Betty Roy, Frances Empringham; Marilyn Hogarth (born his twin), Violet (Alexander) Zachary; sisters-in-law Ruth, Eleanor and Dianne McGonigal. His Aunts: Jeannie Richardson and Molly Steele in Ireland. His in-laws: Harold (Sharon) White, Marie (Jim) Hall, Alec, James, Earl Gibson, Judy Gibson. Several cousins, neices and nephews as well as a lot of good friends.
Derek was predeceased by his parents Isaac and Eliza; brothers: George, Melvin, Ray, Delbert, Keith and Dennis (twin to Dale); his sisters: Doreen McCaskill, Marion Moskaliuk and Joy Marshall; Mary’s parents: George and Alice Gibson
Derek’s final resting place is Sunset Memorial Gardens, Moosomin.
Following the burial, lunch was enjoyed at the Moosomin Armoury (formerly the Elks Hall) where Derek and Mary had many fond memories of attending cabarets, New Year’s Eve, wedding dances, McGonigal reunions, Elks and Royal Purple functions and Mishell’s graduation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Children’s Wish Foundation, The War Amps or The Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children, in memory of Derek. (He enjoyed kids and felt sorry for the ones who were less fortunate.)
We would like to thank everyone for the food, flowers, hugs, gift cards and beautiful sympathy cards and kindness shown to us since Derek’s passing. Also for your memorial donations to the various charities. Thank you to Dr. Mel Konkel, Annabelle Beckett, Dale Smart, the pallbearers-active and honorary, the eulogist and ushers as well as Carscadden’s funeral home. Your presence and thoughtfulness was very comforting during this very difficult time.
And special thanks for the fun times you shared with Derek during his lifetime. Your kindness will always be remembered.
-Sincerely, Mary McGonigal, Mishell, Brent, Sydney and Dalton Usick
May you have love that never ends,
Lots of money and plenty of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
And may God send many Blessings to you.
- An Irish Blessing
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