Don Ambrose
courtesy photo
Don Ambrose
POLSON — Don Wayne Ambrose slipped from this life on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, with his beloved wife Shirley by his side.
Don was born in 1943 in Buhl, Idaho, and spent his childhood and college years in southern Idaho before accepting a position with the Carnation Company in Spokane, Washington, in 1971. Don enjoyed a long and successful career in the wholesale grocery business, earning many promotions until he retired as a regional sales manager with several employees under his supervision.
Don met the love of his life, Shirley, in 1977. The story of their first meeting had Don presenting himself as a dentist, “Dr. Ambrose” and Shirley and her friends were airline stewardesses. That would have remained their story had they not continued dating, so Don admitted he worked for Carnation, a “milkman,” as Shirley would say. She did not fly the friendly skies but was in truth a lifelong banker.
Don and Shirley were married in March of 1983 and moved to a beautiful condo overlooking the sixth fairway at the Twin Lakes Village Golf Course near Rathdrum, Idaho. They enjoyed a wide circle of friends, neighbors and golfing buddies with whom they spent many days on the course and remember with fondness. Don was an avid golfer, who played in and won many tournaments, and was especially adept at the short game.
Besides Don’s love of golf, he enjoyed fishing, was a superb cook, and a marvelous raconteur who always had the latest joke and told it with his own unique flair and wit. Don was a generous host as well as a world class bartender. He was also a skilled craftsman and handyman. Shirley liked to say there wasn’t anything Don could not build or fix. Don was also a die-hard Gonzaga basketball fan who had the pleasure of attending a home game complete with a limo ride home.
Don is remembered by his daughter, Angie, as a man who showered his loved ones with affection. He was a patient golf teacher. He loved to entertain on his organ and never missed a chance to cut the rug. He was one heck of a dancer.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and (Rebecca) Louise Ambrose and by his sister, (Carmen) Elaine Fitzsimmons.
Don is survived by his wife, Shirley; his son, Antony (Erin) and their children, Katie and Cullen; his daughter, Angela (Kent Cawthorne) and their children, Morgan Wetendorf, Travis and Hadley; his stepdaughters, Pamela Dupuis (Mark) and her children, Stephanie, Sean, Spencer and Shane Perry, and Tina Bean and her children, Jeff, Holly and Melissa Walton. Don is also survived by his brothers, Jene and Jerry and his sister, Deena; several nieces and nephews; his 14 great-grandchildren, (with three more on the way); as well as many friends in the Spokane and Coeur d’ Alene areas.
A celebration of Don’s life is planned for Monday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. at the Lake Funeral Home chapel in Polson, with a reception afterward at the Red Lion Inn.
Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
