Don Rodney Howard, resident of Grande Prairie, Alberta, passed away at home in Grande Prairie on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the age of 60 years.

Don was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Joyce Frank. He resided for the first three years of his life in British Columbia with Joyce and her family. At the age of three, Don and his mother moved to Belloy, Alberta, where they became a family with Jack Howard. Don had a sister, Connie, born in 1968; a brother, Dan, in 1974; and a brother, Ron, in 1976. Don attended school in Wanham before moving to Edmonton to attend Glenrose School Hospital around the age of 12. He returned to Grande Prairie, Alberta, at approximately the age of 23, where he remained for the rest of his life. Don was predeceased by his father, Jack Howard, mother Joyce Howard, and brother Ron Howard.

Don was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy around the age of nine. He never let his disability stand in the way of having fun or enjoying life. Even after getting a ventilator in April 2000, Don continued going on picnics, enjoying cards and board games, spending time around the fire pit, taking adventures, and having feasts with family and friends. As Don’s mobility decreased in the last few years, he had to slow down a little. Don was a dedicated member of the Living Church of God. He attended Saturday gatherings in person for many years and then virtually when he was no longer able to attend. He listened to Scripture daily.

Don had a witty sense of humour, positive attitude, tenacious spirit, kind heart, and unfaltering faith in his beliefs.

A celebration of life in the faith of Don Rodney Howard will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the facility graciously donated for the day by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, located at 711039 Range Road 55, Grande Prairie, Alberta. Following the service, there will be a lunch provided by the members of the congregation of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, whom Don considered family.

Interment to follow at the Belloy-Wanham Cemetery, located at Highway 49, Range Road 30, east of Wanham, Alberta.

Don will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Connie (David) Cotton, and their children, Michelle Cotton and her baby, Junior, Michael Klunder, and Kristen (Jamie) Whyte; and his brother, Dan (Leanne) Howard, and their children, Araya, Georgia, and Mattea.

Don will also be greatly missed by his very dear friends, who were by his side throughout his final days, as well as his caregivers, both past and present, who loved Don and treated him like family.

Memorial donations may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Canada (muscle.ca/) or the Living Church of God (https://www.lcg.org/donations).