David (Dave) William Charles Hamilton, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
He was born September 15, 1934, in Devlin Township, Ont., to the late William (Bill) and Clara (nee Whitehead) Hamilton.
He was united in marriage to Darlene (nee Maggotte) in 1962, and they started a family soon after in Savant Lake with their first two children. In 1965, they moved to the family farm in Woodyatt, where David and Darlene brought six more wonderful children into their large family.
Dave grew up on the family homestead in Woodyatt, a passion that stuck with him his entire life. There was nothing he liked better than to look out (with an unobstructed view) over the fields his family had farmed for generations.
His favourite pastime in later years was doing his early morning and late evening drives to see what was going on in the neighbourhood and see where the wildlife were gathering. When he was no longer able to drive himself, family members stepped in to continue the evening drives around the countryside.
Dave was a walking encyclopedia of the history of the Woodyatt and Devlin townships. He would often spontaneously break out into history lessons when gathered with a group of his children or grandchildren, but most often when cousin Ken was over for a cup of coffee with sweetener (Bailey’s) from his never-empty coffee pot.
Dave spent most of his life working for the CNR. This adventure took him to work in numerous places including Churchill, Saskatchewan, Redditt, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay and Savant Lake, where he met the love of his life, Darlene.
Dave’s favourite times were enjoying the big family dinners that were started at his parents place, and later moved to his own home. Having his family around brought constant joy and entertainment. In later years, he enjoyed the ability to take his hearing aids out when the entertainment got to be too much.
We could talk for days about his 91 years of lessons and stories. While we will miss him deeply, we will happily celebrate his memory every time we smell pipe tobacco smoke.
David is survived by his children Ann, Debbie, Cheryl (Bill McEvoy), Valerie (Greg Parliament), Justin, and son-in-law Rudy Biasiol; and grandchildren Jaclyn (Garrett Doornwaard), David (Linda Kuzma), Tyson (Florence McLaurin) Gill, Ryan (Alyssa) and Rhylie Biasiol, Jessie Schaum (Jesse) and Carly (James Booty), Tanna Gurski (Matt) and Mya Hamilton (Dyson), Liam McEvoy, Aidan and Ella Parliament, and Logan, Evan, and Jaycie Hamilton; and great-grandchildren Olivia Gill and Hannah Doornwaard and Caleb Polonoski (Treasure); Kade and Jax Gurski; Felix and Abigail Gill.
Also surviving is his brother Bruce Hamilton (Lynn); and numerous nieces and nephews. Special mention to cousin Ken McKinnon, who was also his lifelong best friend.
David was predeceased by his wife Darlene, sons Gordon John Hamilton, William (Billy) David Hamilton, daughter Jennifer Lynn Biasiol; parents Bill and Clara Hamilton; sibling Norma (Frank) Lundy; brothers and sisters-in-law Lorne (Julie) Williams, Allan, Fred (Eva) Williams, Florence (Steve) Belmore, Barbara (Alex) Maggotte, and Archie Maggotte; and sister-in-law Carol Hamilton.
Interment will be held Saturday, October 10, at 10:00 a.m. at the Emo Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with food to follow at 2329 Hamilton Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that in memoriam donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Kenora/Rainy River District c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
