Douglas “Doug” Bentley Giesbrecht

Obituary

We are devastated to announce the sudden passing of Douglas “Doug” Bentley Giesbrecht, age 63, on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Doug is lovingly remembered by his mother, Helen, his siblings, Teresa (Brian Pasieka), Curtis, and Bonita (Charles Friesen); his nieces and nephew, Ashton (Jamie Kitchur), Chelsea (Josh Govan), Lindsay (Carrigan George), and Tyler Friesen; and his cherished great-niece and great-nephews, Elliott, Wallace, Jameson, Violet, Connor, and Beckett.

He was predeceased by his father, Bill Giesbrecht.

Doug was an avid Toronto Maple Leafs fan and a true stats expert – if you needed a number, a season, or a score, Doug knew it. His memory was legendary; he never needed names stored in his phone because he knew every number by heart.

As a teenager, Doug was a dedicated softball pitcher, forming friendships on the field that lasted a lifetime. That ability to connect with people stayed with him throughout his life. He was naturally gifted at making friends wherever he went, whether at home, at the family cottage at Falcon Lake, or while travelling.

Doug loved his tropical vacations to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Cuba. No matter the destination, he had a way of finding the best local spots and the most memorable food. He enjoyed exploring, meeting people, and settling into a place like he had always belonged there. Closer to home, many summers were spent on the dock at Falcon Lake- sun overhead, BBQ going, cold drinks nearby, and stories carrying across the water. In later years, he also made time for fishing trips, heading out with his gear and a friend, always ready for the next catch and the story that came with it.

Professionally, Doug worked in property management maintenance, where he developed his skills in the painting trade. With courage and determination, he took a leap of faith and started his own successful business, Bentley’s Brushworks – a venture he was proud to build and call his own.

Being an uncle was one of Doug’s favourite roles, especially during the baby years. He could never resist checking in on the little ones. Family still laughs about the times he would peek in on Ashton and then casually tell Bonita, “No, she was already awake,” when she definitely was not. He loved sneaking in those extra moments.

Doug was a creature of habit who enjoyed dropping in to visit his buddies and keeping close to the people he cared about. In the last ten years, especially, he found deep joy in being a great-uncle. His great-niece and nephews brought him immense joy and happiness, and he treasured his time with them, priding himself on getting hugs that were genuine and spontaneous.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

Douglas, there will always be a chair that feels like it should be yours.