Donald Herbert Reitlo

REITLO, Donald Herbert ‘Don’ passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with a lengthy illness at Penticton Regional Hospital on Wednesday, March 31st   at the age of 83 years. He will be remembered and sadly missed by his beloved wife of 63 years Laurel, daughter Marlisle Carlton (Bob) of Penticton, and grandson David Carlton (Natasha) of Toronto.

Don was the only child of Leif and Eleanor Reitlo and was born in Preeceville, SK before moving to Flin Flon, MB in grade seven where he not only grew up, but met the love of his life, Laurel Dawn Lewis. He went on to earn a BSc in mechanical engineering from University of Manitoba in 1960 and was hired right out of school by Johnson Controls in Winnipeg. 1960 also brought a new addition to the family as their daughter Marlisle was born that same August.

After a year working in Winnipeg, he took a hiatus from the company and taught at UBC Vancouver for a year. Again, he was courted by Johnson Controls and this time it took him and his young family to Calgary. After four years he was promoted to head office in Toronto where he rose through the ranks.

1989 saw Don become a grandfather when David was born. They would become peas in a pod. Dave was described as the light of his life and he in turn referred to his Grandpa as a second dad.

 In 1990, he attempted to retire in order to move to the Nanaimo area. Once again, Johnsons had different plans and placed him in a trouble shooter role in the Vancouver branch. He finally retired from Johnson Controls for the last time, after over thirty years, in 1993 and the whole family moved to Penticton. It was there that he took the Canadian Securities course which he graduated with honours, achieving record high marks in his final exams, and began his second career as an investment advisor with Scotia McLeod in 1995. He took care of his clients the old-fashioned way: travelling. This took him up and down the Okanagan and deep into the Kootenay region which he continued for close to fifteen years.

Don worked hard and was extremely successful in everything he laid his hand to, but was also passionate about golf, tennis, curling, and fishing especially with his grandson, David. He was active in the community, especially with the Penticton Rotary Club, but one thing in particular that anyone who knew him could tell you, and that was “family first!”

Special thanks to Dr. David Paisley and Dr. Leona Harries, for their professional and loving care as well as the staff on Floor 5 at PRH who made his last days comfortable.

The family has had a private gathering. Don was a humanist and a man of science. To make a donation in Don’s memory, please consider giving to LET’S TALK SCIENCE.