DONALD MICHAEL ROACH (Lonto)

It is with great sadness that the family of Donald Michael Roach, 52, of 120 Rainy Lake Blvd., Couchiching First Nation, Ont., announces his passing on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont. after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Donald was born Nov. 24, 1959 in Fort Frances to the late Chuck and Kathleen Roach.
Donald grew up in the area, and was well-known for his great sense of humour and athletic ability. He had a very prolific athletic career, excelling at hockey. He played for the Fort Frances High School Muskies and followed with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, playing with teammates Teddy Nolan, Wayne Gretzky, and Craig Hartsburg.
Following his hockey career, Donald, being a young man, headed west. He became a “Rig Pig,” working in the oil fields of Alberta for several years. He then went to Thunder Bay, Ont., working at Denjon Construction and Towland Hewlitson Construction, until work-related injuries forced him into early retirement.
He never gave up his lifelong passion of “tinkering” with anything mechanical. If it could be fixed, Donald could fix it.
Donald’s great sense of humour endeared him to any and all that he met. Perhaps his greatest personal trait, however, was his sense of loyalty to family, friends, and teammates alike.
If Donald “had your back,” you knew he had your back and you could bank on it.
He was predeceased by three brothers, David, Danny, and Randy Roach.
Donald is survived by his special friend, Jackie Jourdain-Adams, and “the boys,” Cameron, Trevor, and Sheldon; her son, Richard White (Dina) and their daughters, Kayla, Ava, Isabelle, and, Jordan White, with her family, Christopher and son, Ethan (“Little Joe” to Donald); and her daughter, Toni Lynn White.
Donald also leaves behind one daughter, Elizabeth Roach of St. Albert, Alta.; one brother, William (Alfredie) Roach of Quesnel, B.C. and their two sons, Alexander and Jesse; and sister, Joanne Roach of Fort Frances, Ont. and her son, Justin Grouette, of B.C., and Donald’s twin sister, Sandra Roach, of Duncan B.C.
Donald also will be forever in the hearts of his aunties, Elaine Lesage and Shirley Roach of Garden River First Nation near Sault Ste. Marie Ont., and Judy (Rob) Klyne and Donna (John) Wood, all of Fort Frances, Ont.; and his uncle, Pat Roach Sr. of Fort Frances, Ont.
Too numerous to mention are the many cousins and their families from the Roach and Klyne last names of the Fort Frances and Sault Ste. Marie areas.
A celebration of Donald’s life will be held Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the multi-use facility at Couchiching First Nation, with Fr. Biju Mathew and Gilbert Smith officiating.
Cremation will take place at Rainy River Cremation Services in International Falls, Mn.
Interment will take place in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery at Couchiching First Nation at a later date.
The honourary pallbearers will be all of Donald’s friends and family.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
On line condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com