Glenn A. Docksteader
Glenn A. Docksteader passed away peacefully at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Mon., Aug. 23, 2010, in his 79th year.
He will be lovingly remembered, and sorely missed, by his wife, Grace Francis who he truly cherished, his children, Danny (Trudy), Glenna, and Kathie (Lynn) who knew his love, grandchildren - papa's pride and joys - Rebecca and Christina; Brittani, Joshua, and Amanda, his sister, Lillis (late Charlie), his brother, Carl (Joy), and brother-in-law Keith (late Audrey), who were not only his family, but his best friends as well. He was much loved by many nieces and nephews.
Friends paid their respects at the Daniels Funeral Chapels Inc. in Winchester on Tues., Aug. 24. The funeral was held in the Winchester United Church on Wed., Aug. 25 with Rev. Christine Lowson officiating, and assisted by Rev. Angus MacDonald and Rev. Bruce North. The pallbearers were Randy Docksteader, Doug, Daryl, and Darcy Last, Mervin Patterson, and Murray McDonald, followed by interment at Maple Ridge Cemetery in Chesterville. Donations may be made to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the J.W. MacIntosh Senior Support Centre, or the Dundas County Hospice.
Glenn was born and raised at the family farm north of Winchester in the Cloverdale community. He grew up in a very loving family, and was surrounded by dear neighbourhood friends (skating buddies!).
Glenn will always be remembered as a hard working man and a great entrepreneur. In the 1950's Glenn, along with his brother Carl, worked in Ottawa for Carswell Furnaces, the brothers later used their experience from there to run their own small plumbing and heating business in Winchester. In 1959 they opened the Country Kitchen restaurant - they started out with six stools and a frying pan! Alongside the restaurant and plumbing and heating business, they also operated a gas bar. They sold the Country Kitchen in 1965, but for many years after, it was still called Docksteader's by a lot of the patrons. Glenn, along with Carl, known as Docksteader Bros. Ltd., opened Winchester's one and only motel, the 31 Inn. They started out with seven units and added on from there. The brothers also ran a contracting business, and by 1966 they had built or renovated more than 20 homes. Always having their finger in more than one pie, they got into the school bus business, starting out with one 18 passenger school bus and by the time they sold the business in 1991 they were up to a fleet of 60 busses. At their last official Docksteader Bros. location, along with the school bus business, they fixed up and sold vehicles to many of the area residents. For the last 19 years, in semi-retirement, Glenn kept busy buying houses and renovating them to use as rental properties.
Glenn was an avid collector of ornamental hens and roosters, having hundreds of different ones on display in his home, and always being excited to show them to any and all visitors.
Glenn will also be missed by friends, family, and neighbours at his favourite lunch and coffee break spots around town.
He will live on through us all.