Douglas "Doug" Brian Forsythe

SERVICE UPDATE: There will be a gathering at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 65,  275 Duke Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB, on July 27th from 2-5pm.

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Douglas (Doug) Brian Forsythe on December 7th, 2021 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Doug was born in Portage La Prairie on March 18th, 1949 to Harry and Frances Forsythe, where he lived for much of his 72 years. Doug grew up with two sisters, Linda and Janice, and one brother, Greg. Doug attended Victoria School in his youth and then attended Portage Collegiate Institute.

Doug loved his career as a heavy equipment operator. He operated many machines for many different companies throughout the years. He started with A. Forsythe Coal Company and he was currently working for Summit Pipeline. There wasn’t any location that you could talk about that Doug hadn’t worked at. Doug was very successful in his work and was well-respected in the construction community.

Doug was a very kind and loving person who would do anything for you. Friends and family were paramount in Doug’s life. He talked about his grandkids to everyone he knew. He spent many hours coaching his daughter’s baseball teams, helping his granddaughter detail her vehicle and watching his grandsons race their dirt bikes. Doug had recently bought a 1952 Mercury 2-Ton Coal dump truck, which used to belong to his grandfather’s coal company. He had gifted the truck to his three grandchildren and was very much looking forward to working on it with them.  He was a very social man with countless friends. Running errands with Doug often took much longer than anticipated as he couldn’t go anywhere without running into an old friend. He never passed up the opportunity to host friends in his living room. Whether it was to watch car, motocross, snowmobile, or races of any sort, Barrett Jackson Auctions, or sporting events of every stripe, he used any excuse just to get together.

When he wasn’t working himself, he was following any and all construction projects surrounding the community. If he wasn’t cruising the roads checking out the projects, then he was cruising the lots of the Caterpillar and John Deere dealerships, looking at the equipment.

Doug had a passion for anything motorized. He was a member of the local Kam Pushers Car Club and spent many, many hours watching car, truck, snowmobile, and motocross races both on tv and in person. Doug was lucky enough to have travelled to see some NASCAR and NHRA races in person. Doug also had a strong interest in planes and even obtained his Private Pilot’s License.  He was a member of the Portage Flying Club, did some recreational flying and attended many airshows throughout his lifetime.

Doug is predeceased by his father Harry, mother Frances, and his sisters Linda Kerr and Janice Forsythe. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Andrea (Tyson) Klassen, grandchildren, Kaitlin (Dustin), Brennan, and Landon, his brother Greg, brother-in-law Jamie Kerr, a nephew and niece in Ottawa. He will be terribly missed by all that knew and loved him. As per his wishes cremation has taken place with a private family burial. There will be a gathering at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 65,  275 Duke Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB, on July 27th from 2-5pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba at 1379 Kenaston Blvd Winnipeg, Manitoba R3P 2T5.

Ronald Moffit Memorial Services in care of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Douglas "Doug" Brian Forsythe, please visit our floral store.