Obituary of Alfred Douglas Rafuse

ALFRED DOUGLAS RAFUSE Douglas Rafuse, of Regina, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 23, 2012 in his 93rd year. Doug was predeceased by his wife, Nance in 1987; parents, Lawrence and Mabel; brother, Donald (Alice); sister-in-law and brother-in law, Isabelle and Gene Powell; and son-in-law, Darvin Appell. Left to cherish his memory are his children: Bob (Sandra); Ann; Will (Kim); Susan Appell (Barry Herman) and Dave (Lorna); his grandsons: Josh Appell, Sam, Luke, Campbell, Austin and Daniel Rafuse; his step-grandson and step-granddaughter, Jade and Ebony Herman; and his special friend of over twenty years, Freda Derrick. He will be remembered and missed by his nieces: Elizabeth (Robert) Frank and their four children; Dianne Wallace and her two children, and Donna Lund, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Janet and Ray Lund. Doug was born in 1919 in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Doug was very musical, able to play the piano by ear and he played saxophone in his and his brother's pre-war big band, the DRs. He began his career with the Royal Bank of Canada in Bridgewater in 1937. From 1941-1945 he served with the RCAF and was honorably released as a sergeant after spending 4 years overseas. At that time he resumed his career with the Royal Bank which brought him west to Alberta and eventually to Regina where he retired in 1979 as Regional Vice-President. As president or director, Doug led many community associations including the Cancer Society, United Way, Regina Downtown Business Association, Assiniboia Club, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. Doug had a real passion for golf, starting at the age of 9 and playing until he was almost 90. He won the Bridgewater and the Amherst, Nova Scotia club championships along with several wins in the Royal Bank Championship in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Doug was a proud Mason for over 50 years with the Bow River Masonic Lodge in Alberta. He was a past director of the Wascana Country Club where he proudly scored a hole-in-one. After retirement, Doug and Nance spent their winter months in California playing golf on a more regular basis. Doug's other interests included photography for which he won many awards, gardening, stamp collecting, bird watching, and after retiring, he took up oil and watercolour painting. He was a Saskatchewan Roughrider fan holding season tickets for many years. The family would like to express their gratitude for the love and compassion given to their father by the Silva Christian Care Home. Along with the staff, the residents, especially Dougs dear friend Lorne Lichtenwold, were special people for him during this last year. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the United Way, 1440 Scarth Street, Regina, SK, S4R 2E9 or to a charity of ones choice. A public viewing will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue on Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Dougs life will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. with interment to follow at Riverside Memorial Park. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com