April 24, 1949 - June 27, 2025
Daniel Robert Brown — born in Ottawa, ON, on April 24, 1949 — passed away peacefully in the comfort of the home he shared with his loving wife, Lois Halyk, in Cochrane, AB, on Friday, June 27, 2025.
While cancer did end Dan’s physical life, it simply cannot erase his spirit from the hearts of those that loved him, nor could it diminish his love for his family and the natural beauty close to Cochrane. As recently as a month ago, Dan was still driving in to Canmore and Kananaskis with Lois and his sons to marvel at the beauty of the mountains and reminisce about his favourite hikes over the years.
Dan leaves behind his sons, Adam (Sara) and Matthew (Jen), as well as their mother, Carolyn, all of London, ON. He also leaves behind his brother, Jim (Camilla), his sisters, Joy (Rickey) and Beth (John), his stepdaughters, Kristen and Jennifer (Jeremy), as well as his five wonderful grandchildren: Emma, Colin, Annie, Rose, and Nora. Dan was predeceased by his brother, Paul.
Dan’s career as a hydrogeologist for the Ministry of the Environment and Golder Associates led to him becoming an expert witness in the 2001 Walkerton, ON, E. coli outbreak trial, resulting in systematic failures being brought to light.
In his university years, he often hitchhiked between Ottawa and Montreal and lived in Montreal as he completed his Bachelor of Science in Geology at McGill University (Class of ‘72).
His love of Montreal and for a united Canada later led him to help organize buses to bring supporters from London to Montreal at the 1995 Unity Rally. Even recently while dealing with his cancer, Dan was volunteering for political groups, the Elbow River Watershed Partnership, Helping Hands, and the Bow River Basin Council.
Dan will be missed but the world was better off for having had him in it, and that is something we should all strive to.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Hydrogeologists Without Borders, 3223 Cochrane Road NW, Calgary, AB, www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/hydrogeologists-without-borders/, to the Alberta Wilderness Association, 455 12 St. NW, Calgary, AB, Telephone: (403) 283-2025, www.albertawilderness.ca/product/donate/, or to a charity of your choice.
Dan and Lois would like to thank Dr. Karachiwala and the staff of the Systemic Treatment Centre TBCC/Arthur J.E. Child Cancer Centre, Katrina from Cochrane Home Care, and the palliative care doctors with the Rural Palliative Care Team.
A Celebration of Dan’s Life will be held at the Cochrane Ranche House (101 Ranchehouse Rd, Cochrane, AB) on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Daniel’s family at www.MHFH.com.
In living memory of Daniel Brown, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes.
