Michael J. Dawe

It is with deep sadness that the family of Red Deer City Councillor, Michael J. Dawe, announces his sudden passing on the evening of December 24, 2023, in Red Deer, Alberta.

Michael was a much beloved brother, parent, uncle, friend, councillor, writer, archivist, and was often referred to as “Red Deer’s Beloved Son”.

Born in Red Deer, Alberta, on March 7, 1956, he was a fifth-generation resident of Red Deer, Pine Lake, as well as a seasonal resident of the Summer Village of Norglenwold, Alberta.

After attending Red Deer College, Michael received a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Economics from the University of Alberta in 1976. In 1979, he became the first full-time Archivist with the Red Deer and District Archive and served as City Archivist until 2017.

Michael lived a life devoted to public service. He served as a Councillor with the City from 2017 until his passing. Among the many boards and committees upon which he served, Michael was the most proud of being a founding member of the Alberta Archives Society, as well as serving as a trustee of the David Thompson Health Authority, the Red Deer Hospital Board and being a 35+ year member of the Red Deer East Rotary Club.

Michael was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Council on School Administration of the Alberta Teachers’ Association for his work with local schools. He also received the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs Commendation for his work with Veterans. Michael received both the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2013, Michael was named Red Deer Citizen of the Year and was twice voted Red Deer’s “Most Beloved Citizen” by readers of the Red Deer Express. Many will know Michael from his historical columns in the Red Deer Advocate, Red Deer Express and the Sylvan Lake and Innisfail Province. Michael was the author of six books, including Red Deer: The Memorable City, written to commemorate the City’s centennial.

Apart from his professional accomplishments, Michael will be best remembered for his warm, jovial and outgoing personality and for how he loved the City of Red Deer and its residents. Genuinely interested in all he met, Michael made time for everyone who cared to have a chat with him – and those people were many. An incredibly astute observer of human nature, Michael loved the ridiculous and the sublime in all of us, never judged our weaknesses or foibles, and celebrated us at our sometimes questionable best. The quality of acute observation and kindly acceptance was arguably what also made him a fine historian. He was possessed of the rare gift of making all people feel both interesting and heard. And the concerns and stories he was entrusted with undoubtedly fueled his dream to make Red Deer a better place through his many years of political commitment. No one was shut out of Michaels’ heart including those he was close with; he was generous to a fault and never boasted about his generosity or his accomplishments. It can be truly said of him, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy”. Rabindranath Tagore

Michael touched many lives, and he will be sadly missed, not only by the City of Red Deer, but by the many who knew and loved him. Predeceased by his parents G.H. (Harold) Dawe and L.J. (Jean) Dawe, nee Hodgkinson, his nephew and namesake Dr. Michael Jensen, his four uncles including uncle W.B. (Wellington) Dawe, Michael is survived by daughter Janvier Williams (John Sowinski) and their children; close friend Beverly Williams; brother Robbin Dawe, sister Dorothy Dawe (Barry Dommasch); numerous nieces, nephews, and grandnieces; and beloved aunt Rita A. Hodgkinson.

Funeral services will be held at Gaetz Memorial United Church, 4758 50 St., Red Deer, AB, on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 1:00 pm, with a reception to follow at 3:00 pm at the Parkland Pavilion on the Red Deer Westerner Grounds. To accommodate the expected attendance, a simultaneous Live Video Feed of the Funeral Service will be presented at the Parkland Pavilion at 1:00 pm. To join the Funeral Service through Livestreaming, please visit https://vimeo.com/event/3988802. A Public Viewing will be held at Eventide Funeral Home, 4820 45 St., Red Deer, AB, on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 from 6-8 pm.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made in memory of Michael to the Red Deer Hospital Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

 

• Date : 2023-12-24
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home