Don Dekker Memorial Page

I was just looking over Don Dekker's facebook page again. Here are some photos Don took of his passion- Volkswagon beetles. There are also some photos his friend took of him. I wanted to share them with everyone on OAP one last time in honor of his memory.

My memories of Don Dekker:

Don was a real gem of a young man..He and I became friends via emails back and forth over OAP. He joined us on an explore in the Aurora area with David and Tim and we all liked him very much. He was very interested in joining me on a ghost town trek to Emberson and other places. He loved it when I found a "bug" volkswagon in the ghost town of Hindon Hill and always wanted me to direct him to other punch buggy sites for photographs, which I was happy to do...

Don took a genuine interest in everyone on the OAP and always had a kind word about locations I and others had posted. He loved history too. I wondered if he was related to the Dekker pioneers of Pickering Township..

When I wandered off behind the last house he, I, Tim and Dave explored --and the last time I saw him alive--I found a motorcycle under some brush in a very good state. I called everyone over and we all agreed it was likely stolen and that the police should be called, so Don volunteered to call the police and reunite the owner with his bike...

I was looking forward to seeing you again this spring Don, but sadly your time ran short in this life..It was a pleasure knowing you and I hope we will all keep your memory alive in some kind of manner over the years...

Clayton

From Don's Mother:

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Its Karen messaging you, I am Dons mom. Clayton messaged my brother on facebook and he told me. I haven't been near my computer much since he passed away. I did want to see all those memorials for him. And to tell you all what happened.Don found an old abandoned place just outside of Aurora where he lived. He searched the deed and found out that the people left the country in the 90's. They were from Iran. He wanted to squat on the property and found out that if he built structures on the property and stayed there 7 years that it would legally be his. He had been going there for about 2 years at the time of his death. He was not in any of the buildings at the time. I noticed some people were concerned about where he passed away. He was building a temporary structure. He had built a washroom and had a bbq pit on site. Sadly he died falling from a tree. He was building a treehouse as well and it is believed that he was trying to carry supplies in one arm and climb with the other. He slipped and fell. He was alone so sadly there was knowone to help him. My dad found him the next day. We had all heard about his "camp" as he called it. I have signed up on your site as ladykaren. I want to come and read the memorials and see any pictures there. I went on facebook and couldn't find the memorials there. Please feel free to email me back. I would love to hear any stories about him. I am only 44 years old and never thought I would have to do this, so the support from everyone is what is keeping me going. I thank you for the kind words and the money you sent. Please send me any links to the sites. Or feel free to call me. 647 273 0182. I love the old abandoned houses myself. Halloween was a hard time for me as well cause we both loved old spooky stuff. Would love to be involved in your site. Thank you again and I hope to hear from you soon.