Obituary for Gerald Joseph Lepine
GERALD JOSEPH LEPINE
APRIL 9, 1958 – DECEMBER 1, 2021
When I was a young boy growing up in Wauchope, Saskatchewan (population <60), I thought it was the centre of the universe. When I moved to Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba (population <1000) at age 12, I soon realized THAT was the centre of the universe! Nothing beat living in Ste. Rose in the 1960's and 1970's... it’s where the cool kids lived. People would travel from far and wide to come there to shop or attend social and sporting events. It was a happenin’ place!
The sense of community was amazing. Country folk just have this deep sense of family and community, and relationships are everything. The opportunity to participate in all types of sports was there for anyone interested, which I took full advantage of. It was an awesome environment to grow up in and of course, the Class of ‘76 was the best. Most of us stay in touch to this day.
In 1977, I moved to the “big city” of Winnipeg to attend college and quickly realized, THIS was the centre of the universe and so I remained. I have a love for drawing and used that skill to become a draftsman. In those days, you actually drew blueprints by hand. When computers started being used to generate drawings, I was fascinated. While still working at Vipond, I took Autocad courses and later enrolled in a program to become an industrial instructor. Upon completion, I secured a position at Winnipeg Technical College (now MITT) and joined my old buddy from back home, Larry (aka “Larry Can of Tobacco”) who was a welding instructor there.
As I come to this last chapter in my life, I reflect on how lucky I was to be born into my family. My dad, Wilfred, was a strong, yet silent type and always gentle and hard-working. My mom, Amelie, was an amazing cook, seamstress and homemaker who always made time to keep up with what was happening elsewhere in the world. Both great role models with a good sense of humour they passed on to me.
My older sister Yvette always made time for her four wild little brothers and taught us how to love everyone for who they are. When she married Don, I gained a partner-in-crime in the jokester department. My brother Denis always tried to show me the way (aka his way) but I’m not sure it ever stuck. He left us way before his time, but I’m grateful for the years I’ve had with my sister-in-law, Iris, and niece, Jennifer. My brother Andre, just a couple years older than me, is a bit of a maverick with a love for living life. Someone who is comfortable talking to anyone and everyone, which we have in common. And finally, my only younger brother, Daniel. We are different in many ways but we respect our differences. He’s a bit more "cultured" than me (ok, way more cultured). I’m still a country boy from Wauchope at heart. He calls often and visits often. We share a love for sports and our golfing trips to Palm Springs have always been eventful. You can ask him about those times, all I can remember right now is me being the better golfer. If he’s being honest with you, he’ll tell you the same.
My sister and brothers also gave me the gift of being “crazy Uncle Gerald” to many nieces, nephews, and later in life, great-nieces. I’ve enjoyed every minute!
Throughout most of my life, my wife Madeleine has been a strong presence. We met as teenagers and have been together ever since. Both fiercely independent, we’re definitely not attached at the hip – we’ve never held each other back from doing the things we love, even if it means doing them apart. Our love is as unique as we are from one another. She drinks coffee, I drink milk. She drinks wine, I drink beer. She’s on the shier side, I love to work a room. She loves country, I love rock. She’s spontaneous, I like order and predictability. She loves quiet, I love noise and excitement. But we have laughed together a lot and share common values for the important things, like family, raising our kids, having a good work ethic, and being financially responsible. Life together has never been boring and in hard times, she’s been the one I’ve leaned on the most.
We have two amazing children, Josee and Blaise. As I like to say, I have two kids – one’s smart enough to build a spaceship and the other’s stupid enough to fly it, which coming from me, is a compliment on both ends. If we were all the same, life wouldn’t be as interesting…you need the builders and the risk takers. I’m proud to say they are both. While many of you might miss my quick wit and cheeky sense of humour…spend two minutes talking to either of my kids and you’ll quickly see my spirit lives on in them. But beware, they show no mercy and all jokes are on the table…just like I taught them. My son-in-law, Nick, who has put up with our rambunctious family and my pestering for nearly two decades, is like a son to me. Josee will tell you, most of my texts and phone calls to her start with “How’s Nick?”
When I married Madeleine, little did I know I was marrying her entire family. My family instantly grew with two new sisters (Valerie and Angele) and three new brothers (Louis, Clement, and Serge). I also got a mother-in-law, Rose, who upon hearing I was dating her daughter said, "that bum from Ste. Rose?!" and a father-in-law, Phillippe, who was welcoming from day one…until I beat him at cards that one night. What an amazing second family they are to me. Rose eventually came to her senses and soon I became her favourite son-in law. I may have been her only son-in-law, but I was still her favourite. I also inherited some amazing aunts, uncles and cousins from both the Nedelec and Michaud divisions! Many good times have been had with them.
I’m also fortunate to have a network of some pretty incredible, loyal friends. One guy in particular who stands out is my friend Vernon. He shared his love for music with me for decades. I’ve been lucky to see him perform as a drummer many times and we’ve attended numerous concerts together over the years. I’m surprised neither of us have had to get our hearing tested. Him and his partner, Colette, are two of the most creative and gracious people I’m lucky to call friends.
Brent, Ryan, and David all stood up for me when I got married. We have remained steadfast friends since Grade 6 at Ste. Rose Collegiate. We share a love for sports and I’m sure they will all agree my athletic abilities are somewhat superior to theirs. Lionel, my best man, I see a little less frequently likely because he lives in far-away Transcona! He always knows how to bring life to a party and his ability to captivate an audience through storytelling is par none. A great bunch of guys…brothers really.
Twenty years ago, I was vetted to join a crew of 80 players in the Southdale Oldtimers Hockey League (SOHL)…if I remember correctly, I think I was first pick that year. Our shared love of hockey soon spilled into trips to Vegas, California and Arizona, visits at Bernie and Yak’s cabins, perogy night at Gingy's, and New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Powells, just to name a few. It’s really hard to describe what all my SOHL buddies mean to me, and how much I cherish the last 20 years filled with laughs, even if most of them were at their expense!
The list of people I care for goes on and on. Chances are, if you’re reading this, we’ve shared good times together. If I’ve shared a laugh with you, it means I love and appreciate you. To name just a few and in no particular order...the great guys I worked with at Vipond, Norbert, Louis and Ubideen. My friends from back home, the Lepla brothers, Denis D., Fly, Dick, the Animal, Jimmy, and so many, many others. My amazing cousins on both sides, especially Gilles and Suzanne, who were like siblings to me. The Class of ’76. Friends, like Dave Rundle, who were gutsy enough to golf against me. My past roommates, Warner, Marcel, Alain, David, the two Geralds, and Lionel. Our neighbours and friends, Carol, Russ, Reese, Sheryl, Mike, and kids who have always been there to lend a helping hand. And to my cribbage buddies of over 40 years, Dan and Louise – I’ll check if my invitation to the World Cribbage Tournament is transferable! Thank you all for your friendship and making space in your life for a crazy guy like me. It’s been an amazing ride.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve lived a life full of adventure, love, and friendship. As I say my final “see you later,” I thank every single one of you for accepting me just as I am and for putting up with one too many jokes as a result. Until we meet again, I’ll hold a spot for you.
Thanks for the good times,
Gerald
APRIL 9, 1958 – DECEMBER 1, 2021
When I was a young boy growing up in Wauchope, Saskatchewan (population <60), I thought it was the centre of the universe. When I moved to Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba (population <1000) at age 12, I soon realized THAT was the centre of the universe! Nothing beat living in Ste. Rose in the 1960's and 1970's... it’s where the cool kids lived. People would travel from far and wide to come there to shop or attend social and sporting events. It was a happenin’ place!
The sense of community was amazing. Country folk just have this deep sense of family and community, and relationships are everything. The opportunity to participate in all types of sports was there for anyone interested, which I took full advantage of. It was an awesome environment to grow up in and of course, the Class of ‘76 was the best. Most of us stay in touch to this day.
In 1977, I moved to the “big city” of Winnipeg to attend college and quickly realized, THIS was the centre of the universe and so I remained. I have a love for drawing and used that skill to become a draftsman. In those days, you actually drew blueprints by hand. When computers started being used to generate drawings, I was fascinated. While still working at Vipond, I took Autocad courses and later enrolled in a program to become an industrial instructor. Upon completion, I secured a position at Winnipeg Technical College (now MITT) and joined my old buddy from back home, Larry (aka “Larry Can of Tobacco”) who was a welding instructor there.
As I come to this last chapter in my life, I reflect on how lucky I was to be born into my family. My dad, Wilfred, was a strong, yet silent type and always gentle and hard-working. My mom, Amelie, was an amazing cook, seamstress and homemaker who always made time to keep up with what was happening elsewhere in the world. Both great role models with a good sense of humour they passed on to me.
My older sister Yvette always made time for her four wild little brothers and taught us how to love everyone for who they are. When she married Don, I gained a partner-in-crime in the jokester department. My brother Denis always tried to show me the way (aka his way) but I’m not sure it ever stuck. He left us way before his time, but I’m grateful for the years I’ve had with my sister-in-law, Iris, and niece, Jennifer. My brother Andre, just a couple years older than me, is a bit of a maverick with a love for living life. Someone who is comfortable talking to anyone and everyone, which we have in common. And finally, my only younger brother, Daniel. We are different in many ways but we respect our differences. He’s a bit more "cultured" than me (ok, way more cultured). I’m still a country boy from Wauchope at heart. He calls often and visits often. We share a love for sports and our golfing trips to Palm Springs have always been eventful. You can ask him about those times, all I can remember right now is me being the better golfer. If he’s being honest with you, he’ll tell you the same.
My sister and brothers also gave me the gift of being “crazy Uncle Gerald” to many nieces, nephews, and later in life, great-nieces. I’ve enjoyed every minute!
Throughout most of my life, my wife Madeleine has been a strong presence. We met as teenagers and have been together ever since. Both fiercely independent, we’re definitely not attached at the hip – we’ve never held each other back from doing the things we love, even if it means doing them apart. Our love is as unique as we are from one another. She drinks coffee, I drink milk. She drinks wine, I drink beer. She’s on the shier side, I love to work a room. She loves country, I love rock. She’s spontaneous, I like order and predictability. She loves quiet, I love noise and excitement. But we have laughed together a lot and share common values for the important things, like family, raising our kids, having a good work ethic, and being financially responsible. Life together has never been boring and in hard times, she’s been the one I’ve leaned on the most.
We have two amazing children, Josee and Blaise. As I like to say, I have two kids – one’s smart enough to build a spaceship and the other’s stupid enough to fly it, which coming from me, is a compliment on both ends. If we were all the same, life wouldn’t be as interesting…you need the builders and the risk takers. I’m proud to say they are both. While many of you might miss my quick wit and cheeky sense of humour…spend two minutes talking to either of my kids and you’ll quickly see my spirit lives on in them. But beware, they show no mercy and all jokes are on the table…just like I taught them. My son-in-law, Nick, who has put up with our rambunctious family and my pestering for nearly two decades, is like a son to me. Josee will tell you, most of my texts and phone calls to her start with “How’s Nick?”
When I married Madeleine, little did I know I was marrying her entire family. My family instantly grew with two new sisters (Valerie and Angele) and three new brothers (Louis, Clement, and Serge). I also got a mother-in-law, Rose, who upon hearing I was dating her daughter said, "that bum from Ste. Rose?!" and a father-in-law, Phillippe, who was welcoming from day one…until I beat him at cards that one night. What an amazing second family they are to me. Rose eventually came to her senses and soon I became her favourite son-in law. I may have been her only son-in-law, but I was still her favourite. I also inherited some amazing aunts, uncles and cousins from both the Nedelec and Michaud divisions! Many good times have been had with them.
I’m also fortunate to have a network of some pretty incredible, loyal friends. One guy in particular who stands out is my friend Vernon. He shared his love for music with me for decades. I’ve been lucky to see him perform as a drummer many times and we’ve attended numerous concerts together over the years. I’m surprised neither of us have had to get our hearing tested. Him and his partner, Colette, are two of the most creative and gracious people I’m lucky to call friends.
Brent, Ryan, and David all stood up for me when I got married. We have remained steadfast friends since Grade 6 at Ste. Rose Collegiate. We share a love for sports and I’m sure they will all agree my athletic abilities are somewhat superior to theirs. Lionel, my best man, I see a little less frequently likely because he lives in far-away Transcona! He always knows how to bring life to a party and his ability to captivate an audience through storytelling is par none. A great bunch of guys…brothers really.
Twenty years ago, I was vetted to join a crew of 80 players in the Southdale Oldtimers Hockey League (SOHL)…if I remember correctly, I think I was first pick that year. Our shared love of hockey soon spilled into trips to Vegas, California and Arizona, visits at Bernie and Yak’s cabins, perogy night at Gingy's, and New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Powells, just to name a few. It’s really hard to describe what all my SOHL buddies mean to me, and how much I cherish the last 20 years filled with laughs, even if most of them were at their expense!
The list of people I care for goes on and on. Chances are, if you’re reading this, we’ve shared good times together. If I’ve shared a laugh with you, it means I love and appreciate you. To name just a few and in no particular order...the great guys I worked with at Vipond, Norbert, Louis and Ubideen. My friends from back home, the Lepla brothers, Denis D., Fly, Dick, the Animal, Jimmy, and so many, many others. My amazing cousins on both sides, especially Gilles and Suzanne, who were like siblings to me. The Class of ’76. Friends, like Dave Rundle, who were gutsy enough to golf against me. My past roommates, Warner, Marcel, Alain, David, the two Geralds, and Lionel. Our neighbours and friends, Carol, Russ, Reese, Sheryl, Mike, and kids who have always been there to lend a helping hand. And to my cribbage buddies of over 40 years, Dan and Louise – I’ll check if my invitation to the World Cribbage Tournament is transferable! Thank you all for your friendship and making space in your life for a crazy guy like me. It’s been an amazing ride.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve lived a life full of adventure, love, and friendship. As I say my final “see you later,” I thank every single one of you for accepting me just as I am and for putting up with one too many jokes as a result. Until we meet again, I’ll hold a spot for you.
Thanks for the good times,
Gerald