David Charles Pearson

January 16, 1938 – June 2, 2021 

It is with heavy hearts the family of Dave Pearson announces his passing at age 83.

He was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in September of 2020 and fought the good fight until complications made that fight too arduous. Choosing to die with dignity, Dave elected a medically assisted death. He said his final goodbyes with a view of Dorothy Lake, surrounded by nature and his family, with his great grand-dog Marley on his lap. He chose June 2 as his date of passing in remembrance of Yvette, his loving wife of 44 years.

He was predeceased by Yvette in 2003, his eldest son Jeff in 2013, his brother Barry, parents Charlie and Ida Pearson and in-laws Richard and Yvonne Bessette. He was also predeceased by brothers-in-law Lyle Martin and Eddie Atamanchuk and sister-in-law Maria Pearson.
He is survived by his daughter Cheryl, his son Rick (Tracey), his grandson Nick, his step-granddaughter Courtney, and favorite dog Marley. He is also survived by his sister Viney Martin and sister-in-law Lucy Atamanchuk and many nieces and nephews.

Dave grew up in Transcona and at the family cottage in Ottermere, Ontario. After completing school, he began working for CNR and then joined the Transcona Police Department in 1960, later moving to the Winnipeg Police Department when Transcona amalgamated with the City of Winnipeg. He then joined the Office of the Fire Commissioner and after retiring in 1998, he opened Spectrum Investigations consulting on fire origin and cause for the insurance industry.

He was a voracious reader of history, mostly WW2 history, and fan of the Winnipeg Jets and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He died a proud fan with the Bombers 2019 Grey Cup win. Dave and Yvette enjoyed spending time with family and friends at their cottage at Dorothy Lake in the Whiteshell. They also enjoyed travelling with family and friends across Canada, to Canada’s north, the USA, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, as well as spending a few winters in Mexico. One of Dave’s more memorable trips occurred in 2016 when he chartered a float plane and returned to Ottermere 50 years after his last trip. He was able to visit with cottagers that remembered him and his family and his Uncle and Aunt, Charlie and Viney Sayer.

Dave and family would like to thank Lindsay and Dr. Versha Banerji and the staff at Cancer Care Manitoba for their care and support. We would also like to thank the M.A.I.D. team for their kindness and making Dave’s final wishes possible. We graciously thank family, friends and neighbours that called, Skyped, and paid socially distanced outdoor visits, generously offering meals and treats as Dave spent his final weeks at Rick and Tracey’s home at Dorothy Lake.

Cremation has taken place. As per Dave’s wishes, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Care Manitoba.