Obituary of Dale McCaw

BIOGRAPHY McCAW ~ Dale Samuel McCaw passed away suddenly near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the age of 42 years. Dale will be so very sadly missed by his loving wife Dana; his children: Joel, Tessa, Brett, Cara; his father Dave and Linda McCaw; four brothers and their families: Reg and Chris McCaw of Edmonton, Mark and Jodi McCaw of Cochrane, Glenn and Doreen McCaw of Lloydminster, Kurt and Radica McCaw of Calgary; step-brother Doug and Fran Baynton and family of Lloydminster; Uncles and Aunties: Sam McCaw, Ed and Indra Johnson, Larry and Dee Johnson, Lloyd and Jeanie Johnson, Norm and Gloria Johnson, Ann McCaw, Millie McCaw; father and mother-in-law Eric and Gwen Persson; brother-in-law Mark and Sheila Persson and family; sister-in-law Dee and Chet Kennedy and family as well as numerous cousins and other family. Dale was predeceased by his mother Agnes McCaw and his step-sister Kathy Baynton. The funeral service was conducted from the Southridge Community Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 3:00 P.M. with Pastors Ken Fisher , Brad Berkan and Eric Persson officiating. The eulogy was read by Ken Hastings and Vaughn Davidson. Jeanine Hatchard performed the special music, “The Lord’s Prayer” accompanied on the piano by Pastor Brad Berkan. The choruses sung were “God Of Wonders”, “Indescribable” and “I Can Only Imagine”. The honorary pallbearers were Members of the Southridge Elders Board of which Dale served, Vaughn Davidson, Ken Hastings, Cal Friesen, Jim Simon, Reg Block, and Harold Watt; and members of Dale’s small group Darren Millar, Steve Parkinson, Dale Block, Wayne Muir and Chad Oborowsky. The active pallbearers were his two sons Joel McCaw & Brett McCaw and brothers, Reg McCaw, Mark McCaw, Glenn McCaw, Kurt McCaw and Doug Baynton. Interment took place in the Lloydminster City Cemetery led by Pastor Brad Berkan. CARD OF THANKS The McCaw family would like to thank everyone who sent cards, made donations, dropped off food and flowers, attended the funeral and sent their thoughts and prayers. Your care and concern has encouraged us all during a very difficult time. A special thanks to Pastors Ken Fisher, Brad Berkan and Eric Persson for creating such an unforgettable service. To Ken Hastings and Vaughn Davidson, your memories of Dale were written in such a way that reminded us all of the great person that Dale was. Thank you to the Southridge Community Church ladies for providing such a wonderful lunch. We would also like to commend the Rescue Squad, RCMP, Brittania Wilton Fire Department as well as everyone else who helped at the time of the accident. Dana, Joel, Tessa, Brett & Cara McCaw Dale McCaw's Eulogy October 22, 2009 Ken Hasting begins: Vaughn and I are extremely humbled and awkwardly honored to pay tribute to Dale McCaw today. In reflecting on his life and how he has impacted our families in countless ways. Two words stand out...Compassion and Relationships... that was Dale. Each of you here today would be able to share a personal story of how Dale has built a relationship with you and how he shared compassion along the way. Over the course of the last 30 years I have watched Dale grow here at Southridge from a young camper, to a youth worker, a lay leader and now as an Elder. In having this privilege of walking beside Dale and his family, I have come to realize that his passion for establishing and strengthening relationships with each one of us is the overflow of his relationship with Jesus Christ. He would honestly admit that he was far from perfect but he continually sought to grow in his own walk with God. It was that relationship that filled Dale to overflowing with the compassion and love that can only come from a heavenly father. It is that very love and compassion that Dale freely shared with each of us, not only here at Southridge but also at his work. Dale had a way of bringing dignity to the deceased and imparting strength to the grieving in a way that was natural and heartfelt. If you knew Dale McCaw you instantly became part of his extended family, today that family includes people of all ages scattered all over this globe. Yet here in Lloydminster at Southridge church, this was home. It was here and up at camp where we saw his compassion, his generosity and his love for people played out on a daily basis. In years past this stage was where each of his children were dedicated to God. Two Sundays ago it was right here that Dale himself led our church family in a charge to compassionately and lovingly care for a new generation of children and their families and to do so in Jesus' name. Indeed we are crowded together today because it was Dale's wish that when the Lord called him home this church building was to ring with the final celebration of his life. Walking and working together with Dale whether up at Southridge Camp, in Board meetings or building sets here in the sanctuary, I always looked forward to his question. He would quietly approach and simply ask... How can I help? That was Dale's question. Many of you have heard it as Dale walked with you through your life journey. How can I help? And whatever the answer, he did. Compassion and Relationships, so important to Dale. I think his on family puts to words that reality better than we could ever try... In answer to the question, "What did Dale mean to me?" Cara writes: Dad meant so much to me. He taught me a lot, even if I wasn't always willing or misunderstood him. He showed me through everything he did his love for me. He showed me God's love through the things he did everyday. I loved the time we were able to spend together, even when it always seemed so short, he's my hero. I aspire to show love, God's love, to the world, like dad did. I never realized that everything he did was for us, and he ministered to everyone around him, whether it was with a smile, a hug or the right words, he knew what to do. He always knew what to do. He protected us and cared for us, more than words could express. He showed me that Jesus loves me, and proved that to me more and more each and every day. He believed in me and loved me, and now I can finally realize that. And Dana responds on behalf of Dale… What Cara Meant to Her Dad: Dale was continually amazed and impressed with Cara's determination to do anything she put her mind to and her love for others and her giving spirit to both those around her and those who were in need across the world. He backed her 100% in everything she did and everything that was important to her became important to him. Dale loved the special moments they shared working in the shop building shelves for her room and sanding and staining each part meticulously, He loved the times they ran together and took part in several long distance "Fun Runs" with her where she kept pace with him in spite of her small size beside her tall "Daddy". They shared the position of "baby of the family" and neither of them every let that stop them from doing anything. Seeing her water ski and downhill ski (and even snowboard when he had never done that), made him so proud of her willingness to try and master these things he loved. Brett says: Dad always wanted to teach me new things – even if I didn't want to learn or he didn't know all the answers – he would find out and we would figure it out together. I know there was so much more he wanted to show me and I will miss being able to learn from him. He helped me grow spiritually – even through our mistakes we learned to love each other and the Lord more. He was proud of how I was good with kids and that I would work with them in AWANA and at Camp, just like he did and he encouraged me to do that because I did it well. What Brett Meant to His Dad: Dale was so proud of the man Brett has become and the good, strong leader he is. He shared so much in common with Brett – from interests and talents to personality traits and life goals. Dale saw himself in Brett and pushed him to be all that he could be. He enjoyed teaching him things and watching him play sports of many kinds. Dale even learned to love fishing and hunting because Brett did. He wanted to help him explore his interests and passions and to try new things all the time. He loved Brett's eagerness to learn how things worked and his ability to experience life to the fullest – his "no holds" personality and how he was a "man of action". Tessa's thoughts on What Dad Meant to Her: My Daddy was everything to me. He was my protector and my strength. I know that he loved me with every fiber of his being. We were so much alike, his sensitive heart is a part of me, we cried together and he cherished me as I cherished him. He taught me so much about Jesus through his life. He loved when I went to work with him, he answered all my questions and I learned so much from him. He was my living example of Jesus. I was Daddy's little girl and he gave me everything that I needed and more. He took care of us. He was the best father I could have ever been given. Through his laugh, his hugs, his smile, I knew he was proud of me. Even when I felt I didn't deserve it he only loved me more. I now realize how alike we are, I was lucky enough to have his heart in more ways than one. I was blessed with a dad who did nothing but care and that was evident to everyone who knew him. He could fix any situation that I got myself into. He was my knight in shining armor; he was there for me through everything. He always walked in to save me whenever I needed him and even when I didn't know that I did. He was always only a phone call away. He was my rock. I love him so much. What Tessa Meant to her Dad: Tessa was his "sweetheart" – she became a part of his heart more each day. He loved her so much it often "hurt" – through the "tough stuff" he loved her more, never less. Dale never wanted Tessa to need anything – he gave her everything he could and always wanted to be there for her. He loved her bubbly personality and how she lit up a room with her presence. Dale loved Tessa's heart and her loyalty to those she loved. He was so proud of who she was and over the last few weeks as she went away to college and found a piece of herself again that she had lost – he was at peace and so happy for her. He knew his precious little girl would be okay. Joel writes: Dad was constantly showing me who God the Father was through his own life, even after he was done living it. I did not always see it as that but he was. He was the hardest working man I knew and it took me a while to realize why. It was most times because of his love for others and if it wasn't that it was because of his love for his family and his desire to give us the best life possible. But his love for God came before everything else and in turn was able to show this love to others. I know that Dad got it. I don't think I ever gave him credit for it but I realize now that I will be lucky to grow to be half of the man that he was. What Joel Meant to His Dad: Dale was so proud of the man of God Joel had become. He learned to love music and the arts through Joel and was so proud of his accomplishments and the things Joel could do naturally that he could not. He wanted him to be all he could be and find the person he was meant to be in order to feel strong and secure; happy and fulfilled. He has enjoyed the last six months so much as he and Joel have been able to work together and he could show Joel his life and love for the families he served through the business. They were becoming friends as much as father and son. He was so proud when people recognized him and his father in Joel. Dana shares: Dale completed me – Where I lacked, he filled in; where he lacked, I filled in; We were so different but learned to appreciate that; I think as a funeral director's kid he always felt a little different from everyone but in me, he found someone who was also different and he was so interested and open to understand me, as I was to understand him. At a time in my life when I could have been very alone when my parents returned to Africa where they were missionaries – he accepted me into his life and gave me a place to belong - his family became my family, his community became mine, his home became my home;– and everyone I loved – he loved. We married young and figured out life together and it was just a few years ago where we realized we had spent more of our years together than apart. We had our children when we were young – four beautiful gifts in five years – so that we could enjoy them while we were young enough to keep up. We loved them through every stage and wondered when they were little what it would be like to have four teenagers "someday" and that is what we have now and he was so proud of each of them and loved them as much and yet if possible, more each day than the day we were blessed with them. He gave me the gift of a close relationship with each of our children, always insisting that he would take care of everything and I should be there for them and be at home with them whenever I could, for as long as I could. What I Meant to Dale: I was the love of his life; he treated me like a precious gift and took care of me in that way. He loved me "extravagantly", in a way that often was too extravagant for a simple girl like me – with last minute flowers bought from friends at the flower shops or gifts of jewelry bought from his friend, Wayne Fisher – but I know it was because he could not give me something less than the best. He taught me how to love myself and see beauty in myself because he saw it in me. He came to me for advice and valued my opinion even though he would sometimes say "how come you're always right" (which I was not) but he took the time to see things through my eyes. Vaughn Davidson concludes: My family had the privilege of living near Dale and Dana when our children were toddlers, and our friendship developed further with our connection at Southridge. Right from the start, the McCaw's were involved in our lives; giving the girls pushes on their big swing, having us over for meals, providing babysitting, and being by our side during my health crisis. My closing comments are for Cara, Brett, Tessa and Joel. I want to share a few things with you about your dad's spiritual journey, because that's where he and I connected. When we first started meeting, you dad was full of questions, and by no means had his spiritual act together But over the course of years; of more questions and doubts, by opening the Scriptures, through prayer, experiencing setbacks and successes, your dad grew in his knowledge and love of Christ. He even got to the point where he read a couple of books! Maybe even three! Your dad was a great example of how to work out your faith: He surrounded himself with good people, he wasn't afraid to admit his fears, his failures, his faults, and he knew that spiritual growth was a marathon, not a sprint. I hope by sharing this with you, you will be encouraged and strengthened in your own spiritual journey; and that you can use your dad's blueprint to deepen your own walk with Christ. In my concluding thoughts of Dale, I think Joel said it best; "He got it". Dale's work wasn't a job, it was his ministry. He lived for deep laughter and served with deep compassion. Church wasn't for Sunday mornings, it was for living life together. Families were to be loved, cherished and celebrated. And Jesus was the cornerstone that held all these pieces together; and Dale was his child. Donations in memory of Dale may be made to the Southridge Camp, Lloydminster Region Health Foundation Palliative Care or to a charity of the donors choice.