He was an electrical engineer and lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Some compare his books to those by Robert Newton Peck (author of A Day No Pigs Would Die).
http://gonebutnotforgotten.ca/medicine-hat/2020/11/02/lemna-donald-frederick/
September 29, 1936 ~ October 24, 2020
Donald Lemna of Medicine Hat, Alberta passed away peacefully at the Calgary Foothills Medical Center in Calgary on October 24, 2020 at the age of 84. Don was the loving father of Donald Lemna (Joanne) of Chestermere, AB, and Boyd Lemna (Christine) of
Manotick, ON. He will be dearly missed by his brothers: Pat and Fred; grandchildren: Joseph (Michele), Sean (Heather), Samantha (Diego), and Robyn; and his great grandchildren Werner, Rachel, and Daisie. Don was predeceased by his soulmate and loving
wife of 53 years Deanna, and his grandson Matthew. Don was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta to his parents Edward and Phyllis. He spent his childhood in the Hat, and many years later, when walking through the downtown with his children and grandchildren, he
would point out the landmarks of his childhood, and provide a story for each. Don joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1955, and attended Royal Roads and the Royal Military College of Canada, where he earned an engineering degree. He met Deanna in his
final year of RMC and they were married in 1960. After serving 20 years, Don retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel, and the family moved to Sedgewick, Alberta where he took up writing full time. In 1981, Don and Deanna moved to Medicine Hat
and it has been his home ever since. He was a published author, avid gardener (tomatoes and morning glories being favorites), friendly neighbour, amateur mason, loving father, and devoted husband, and he will be lovingly remembered by us all.
Arrangements for a celebration of life will be made at a later date. To express condolences, please visit: www.mountain viewmemorial.ca.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/don-lemna/
(two Kirkus reviews)
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1158759.Don_Lemna
(a few reader reviews)
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1158759.Don_Lemna
(includes two quotations from "When the Sergeant Came Marching Home")
http://www.medicinehatmedia.com/2012/03/don-lemna-book-launch/
(short post about Lemna from 2012)
Excerpt:
...In Bubsy (1993), he drew on his experiences as a child growing up in Medicine Hat. While Out in Left Field and When the Sergeant Came Marching Home are set on the prairie landscape of Montana, the portrayal is very familiar to Prairie Canadians...
http://booksforkidsblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/bonkers-out-in-left-field-by-don-lemna.html
(review)
From "Contemporary Authors": "Contributor to periodicals, including OWL and Australian School Magazine...Leacock Medal runner-up, for A Visit from Mr. Lucifer; received national and provincial awards for playwriting."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGrsmXW98UI
(short video from 2002; he appears for less than half a minute)
http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n87-150973/
(extra titles)
WRITINGS:
A Visit from Mr. Lucifer, Western Producer Prairie Books (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada), 1984.
("This collection of warm, humorous stories embraces an exciting period of discovery in the lives of two boys, Bobby and Pat Cameron.")
Bubsy, illustrated by Sally J.K. Davies, Riverwood Publishers (Sharon, Ontario, Canada), 1993.
When the Sergeant Came Marching Home, illustrated by Matt Collins, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2008.
("Donald can't believe it when his father returns after serving in World War II and decides to move the family to a middle-of-nowhere farm, where they work hard trying to make end meet.")
Out in Left Field, illustrated by Matt Collins, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2012.
("This timeout, Donald is sure that his life is ruined when a pop fly beanball knocks him senseless out in left field. The error costs his team the game, and Donald is desperate to redeem himself. But all of his efforts end in disaster.")
Lenona.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)