In Memory of

Gerald

Edward

Joseph

Lessard

Obituary for Gerald Edward Joseph Lessard

Gerald Lessard
1967 – 2022

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the sudden passing of Gerald Lessard on Tuesday, October 11th, 2022 at the young age of 55.

Gerald is survived and remembered by his wife Miriam Lessard, his stepsons Ian and Luis III (Jr.) Baquiano, father Edward Lessard, his cousins Gerald, Ann Marie Grandbois, nephew and niece Michael and Lindsey Grandbois, and his little brother Chook Cheak Ng (CC), he also left behind his sister and a niece and nephew alongside many other friends and families.

Gerald was born in Pine Falls, Manitoba in 1967 living with his lovely Mother Stella Jeanna Gagnon and Father Edward Lessard. He went to elementary School at St. George Elementary then SRSS for high school. Gerald’s passion in life was always the great outdoors, he always enjoyed spending his time hunting or fishing. Gerald was also very fond of travelling, fortunately he got to see many parts of the world like Australia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Philippines, Cuba and many other unique places.

Gerald was always a very hard worker, it all started when he joined the army cadets in his high school years, learning necessary lessons for survival which he carried with him throughout his life. He then joined a work exchange program that took him to Australia for a whole year while putting the hours in for work. He developed an even greater appreciation for the outdoors as Australia gave him new experiences and stories that he could bring home and share. It wasn’t until 1991 when Gerald would find his permanent career job which was for the Government of Manitoba with the Highway and Infrastructure Branch. His first day was on July 29, 1991, the day he landed this job was very bitter-sweet, the day before on July 28, 1991, his mother Stella Jeanna Gagnon was taken by cancer at a very young age. This day turned Gerald’s world apart but with the encouragement of his father he still found the will power and strength to work that first day with the Government.

If it wasn’t for his father Gerald would never have made it to work that day. Gerald was very thankful for his father to guide throughout life especially that day to go to work. Throughout the 31 years of hard work with Manitoba Highways he created special bonds with co-workers which in turn became long life friends. Gerald was a mentor to many of the new generation of workers for the highways, many of them looked up to him because of his dedicated work ethic.

Gerald never had kids, but he was always a caretaker, when it came to his Father or his dogs; Molson, Tyke and Tess. Later on in life he would meet Miriam, his wife, and his stepsons Ian and Luis (Jr). He was always pulling jokes with his family and he shared those outdoors experiences with them as well. The name given to Gerald by his family was PB or Papa Bear, at first he hated it but he later on adopted the name and was proud to be named it.

Gerald was a simple man, he never wanted more than necessary and was always content with what he had. In his own way he was a very loving person to the handful of people he personally and genuinely cared about. Although he never showed love in the traditional way he had his own way of showing it by giving that “tough love” which the family will always miss.
We love you PB!

Services for Gerald Lessard will be held on Saturday, October 22nd 2022 at 1:00PM at the E.J. Coutu Funeral Home at 680 Archibald St, Winnipeg, MB.