Donald William Bennett Stuckless

Stuckless, Donald William Bennett October 2, 1937 – November 29, 2021 It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Donald William Bennett Stuckless at Lakeside Homes, Gander on November 29, 2021 at the age of 84 years. He was predeceased by his parents Alfred Bennett and Elise Maude Stuckless (nee Best), brother in law Chris Hancock and sister in laws Sarah Smith, Ruby Smith and nephew Derrick Smith. Don was born in Morton’s Harbour, New World Island. While growing up there, he received his high school education and was a bit of an entrepreneur running a little store selling everything from ice cream to Make and Break motor parts. He was also the owner of the first kerosene oil refrigerator in the area. From there he left for St John’s to complete his secondary education at Vocational Training School. While there, he met the love of his life Eileen Ruby Smith. They fell in love, and when he finished his training, they moved to Gander where Don started his career with Air Radio and married on December 9, 1958. Later in his career he moved the Gander Area Control Centre with ATOS. Don was a son, brother, husband, father, grand-father, great-grandfather whom which he excelled in all by providing the very best of love, guidance, support, leadership and lifetime skills which anyone could possibility ask from a person. Don loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He didn’t stop there, he carried his worldly ethics into his workplace and most of all, his volunteer work. Both Don and Eileen spent many years volunteering unlimited hours of their time with the Gander Lions Club and the Glenwood RCSCC 288 Ardent Sea Cadet Corp in Glenwood. With the Lions he worked on many fund raisers, some of which included, the Gander Splash Pad, raising funds for the Gander Dialysis Unit, Commonwealth War Graves revitalization and the Gander War Memorial, just to name a couple. Don was one of the founding organizers with the Sea Cadet Corp in the early 1980’s. By the time he left the Corp, he had reached the level of Lieutenant Commander along with his most proudest accomplishment, the creation of a Regional Sail Center on Gander Lake. In 1994 he was awarded Gander Citizen of the year and in 2012 the Queen’s Jubilee Award from the Province of NL. He leaves to mourn with love and fond memories, his wife of nearly 63 years, Eileen, son Gerald (Jeanmarie), daughter Janice, grandsons Randy (Alicia), Jason (Kelly), Jordan (Brittany), Matthew (Jessica), Brady, great grandchildren Hannah, Nathan, Zoey and Dominic. Sister Margret Hancock, brother in laws Ray, Charlie (Marcie) and Harrison (Fronie). Also left to mourn a large family of cousins, and the many friends both him and Eileen made during their volunteer years. Donations in Don’s memory may be made to the Gander and Area SPCA, 36 McCurdy Drive, Gander, NL. A1V 1A2 or Daffodil Place, 70 Ropewalk Lane, St. John’s, NL. A1E 5T2. Family will be accepting friends at Stacey’s Funeral Home, Gander on Wednesday, December 1st from 1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Funeral service will take place at St. Martin’s Anglican Cathedral on Thursday, December 2nd at 2:00 P.M. with Interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. Please note, Vaccination passport (VaxPassNL) will be required and masks to be worn by all attendees. Arrangements entrusted through Stacey’s Funeral Home, Gander – Carmanville.