Donald Frederick Butland

Donald (Don) Frederick Butland, 73, died suddenly on the morning of July 11, 2021 at home in Buckhorn, Ontario. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Elaine, who was at his side as he passed. Don was predeceased by his brother Brian and his parents Audrey and Peter. He is dearly missed by Elaine and their sons Ken (Angeline), David (Laura) and Jason (Adriana), his granddaughter Aviella, his sister Kathy (Ron) Hailstone, his sister-in-law and Brian’s wife Wendy, his sister-in-law Carol (Bob) Wells and brother-in-law Ross Liddycoat, his many nieces and nephews, the Villalobos family in Costa Rica and countless friends of the family in Canada and Costa Rica.

Don was born on February 19, 1948 in Hamilton, Ontario. In his early twenties he became a pilot, and flew all over Alberta, BC and the Northwest Territories, where he lived as a flight instructor. He was an avid motorcyclist, working as a salesman for Cycle World and appearing on the cover of the Honda Motorcycles Canada catalogue in 1970 (riding his own ’69 model). He met Elaine, a schoolteacher, in the apartment building they both lived in, often chatting together in the elevator. They married in 1976, had two sons and moved often, first to Mississauga, Caledon and then Whitby. Don enjoyed hunting and especially fishing, and was very fond of fly-in fishing trips in Northern Ontario with his two boys.

In 1995, Don founded Eldon Lighting, the family business in Oshawa, Ontario that he ran with Elaine, David and their loyal staff right up until the end.

Don and Elaine befriended the Villalobos in the early 2000s, a struggling Costa Rican family with seven children who they met on their first vacation there. Members of the Villalobos family became very close, affectionately referring to Don as “Don Don.” After many years of love and support, they applied to legally adopt Jason Villalobos as their son.

Don couldn’t stand being inactive. If he wasn’t at the store, you’d find him landscaping up at 'Shangri-Lodge,' the family lake home in Buckhorn, or else on the grounds of their mountain home near Atenas, Costa Rica, keeping the iguanas out of the drainage pipes and tending to the fruit trees in the orchard. He loved a glass or two of Woodbridge wine in the evening and was always ready with a joke he found on the internet. He will be forever missed.

Memorial services will be privately held. Charitable donations may be made in Don’s name to Operation Smile Canada (www.operationsmile.ca).

The Butland family strongly encourages people to share their favourite memories of Don here, where they will bring much comfort and joy, and help keep his memory alive. Using the Tribute feature below, please add a message, share a memory, and especially add a photo of Don if you have one.