Ira James Donald

Ira Donald of Maidstone, SK died on July 5, 2023 at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. Born with Cystic Fibrosis, Ira beat the odds to lead a long, fearless and colourful life marked by deep and abiding relationships, frank conversation, travel, music, dance and lots of laughter. He graduated from the University of   Saskatchewan qualified for a career of teaching but chose instead to follow his passion as a trainer of thoroughbred race horses, working primarily in Edmonton and Calgary. 

Competitive in all sports and games, Ira always tried his best and encouraged his teammates to do the same. He would dance all night if he had a willing partner and the band kept playing. Faced with deteriorating health, Ira retired to his home town of Maidstone. He got a new lease on life in 2005 when he received a double lung transplant from the Lung Transplant Program at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He was forever grateful to the organ donor's family and to his medical team. Ira remained active in retirement, participating in sports, including The Canadian 
Transplant Games, supplying friends and family with produce from his huge garden, and staying involved in horse racing. 

Ira was precedeased by his parents Hamish and Cynthia (Squair) Donald and sister-in-law Janet (Clarke) Donald. He is survived by his sister Noreen (Bryan Tastad) Donald, brother Greg Donald, nephews Michael (Lori) Donald and James (Erica Maier) Tastad, nieces Ericka (David) Robson, Lauren (Clayton Linthicum)
Tastad, Adrienne (Tom Brannen) Tastad, great-nephew Jack, great-nieces Macy, Ada, and Astrid, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends

 Thanks to family and friends who connected with Ira through calls, visits, and gifts of food, and to the staff at RUH who cared for him in the last two months of his life. For memorial donations, please consider the Lung Transplant Program, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

Ira’s funeral will be held on Saturday, July 15 at Grace United Church, 201 1st Street East, Maidstone SK beginning at 2 p.m., under the direction of Marshall’s Funeral Home.

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