Donald Clare Rankmore

Donald Clare Rankmore

July 19, 1947 – March 7, 2023

Passed away peacefully with his wife by his side at the Glenboro Health Centre on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the age of 75 years, Donald Clare Rankmore, of Glenboro, MB.

Don was born in Brandon on July 19, 1947 to Hugh and Jean (Fitzsimmons).  Gordon was his older brother.  They lived in Fairview in a little house at the elevator where his dad was the agent.  He went to school in Fairview, a half mile from the house, then Carberry Collegiate, and Brandon University.

          Growing up at Fairview, Don loved sports.  He played softball and won ribbons at field days and school picnics.  He took part in school Christmas concerts and went to church at Summerville, and Sunday School in the old Summerville curling rink across the road.  He belonged to the Carberry 4-H beef club, and learned to play the accordion while at Fairview.  In high school he participated in track & field events, and especially loved football.

At university Don was on the broomball team.  He lived in residence at first, and then shared a house with fellow students with whom he kept a life-long friendship.  He enjoyed “catching up” with many of them again at their “Old Boys” reunion held in July, 2022.

Don’s teaching career began in 1969 and he had the pleasure of teaching more than one generation of students until his retirement in 1998.  He loved the spontaneity and spunk of his junior high students…they always kept things interesting and fun for him.

Don married Linda (Gregory) on July 9, 1976.  Over the years they travelled to Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas, and of course Minneapolis to watch Don’s favourite baseball team.  One year they spent 14 days in Minneapolis, and went to 16 ball games.  At that point, Linda became a fan too, and they never missed a year of baseball until covid stopped everyone from travelling.

Over the years, "Scoop" enjoyed playing hardball with the Glenboro Canucks and old-timers hockey with the Glenboro Rovers.  He was a jogger most of his life, often jogging (and skiing) out in beautiful Spruce Woods Park, and in later years he could be seen biking and walking around town every day.

Music was one of Don’s passions, and he enjoyed playing his keyboard.  He was an avid history buff, and spent many hours on ancestry sites tracing his family’s genealogy. He also loved meeting and chatting with family and friends, and especially loved being part of nieces and nephews lives as they grew up.  And he was always interested in former students and the different paths their lives took, inquiring about their children, and wishing them all the best. He didn’t have children of his own, but in his own way, he had many children.

Don leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife Linda (nee Gregory), brother Gordon (Sharon) Rankmore of Carberry, MB, nephews Scott (Sharon) & Kelly (Leone) & two great nieces Reese & Kenzie.  Also surviving is brother-in-law Dwain Gregory of Winnipeg, MB, nieces Angela, Carolyn, Cheryl and nephew James as well as numerous extended friends & relatives.

Don was predeceased by his father Hughie in 1985 & by his mother Jean (nee Fitzsimmons) in 2010.

A Celebration of Don's life will be held on Thursday March 16, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Glenboro Kinsmen Community Hall with Sharon Hamilton officiating.  Reception to follow.  A family interment will take place at the Glenboro Cemetery Columbarium.

Memorial donations can be sent to the Glenboro & Area Foundation, Box 147, Glenboro, MB, R0K 0X0.  Online condolences can be sent to the Rankmore family by visiting Don’s profile page at www.willmorchapel.com.  Jamieson’s Funeral Services of Glenboro in care of arrangements.

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