Obituary for Joe Camil Ringaert
Joe Ringaert
On December 26, 2012, my father, my mentor, and my best friend left our life peacefully. I had the honour and the privilege to be with him in his last moments. Dad leaves behind his loving son Ken, his grandson and hero, Joey, daughter-in-law Debbie, niece Roseanne, nephews Richard and Neil and his godchild Caite. He was predeceased by his wife Sandra, sister Rachel, and parents Richard and Hermine.
Dad was born in St. Boniface on March 11, 1926. He must have liked what he saw back then, and decided to stay there for his whole life. He was the son of Belgian immigrants, and loved to tell stories of his childhood in old St. Boniface, where everyone knew everyone else?s business. Never big on change, he moved out of his childhood home when he married mom at age 26 in 1952. After a brief stay in a house a block away, he moved to his brand new house another block away, where he lived with mom for 57 years and then by himself until his passing.
After a brief stint in the army, Dad started working for Canadian General Electric in sales, where he stayed until he retired in his late fifties. He had close to 30 years of retired life, and never missed working for a second. He spent a good number of those years solving the world?s problems over coffee with his friends, Gus, Joyce, and Andy. He was a very political animal and loved to talk Canadian and US politics. He also spent innumerable hours studying the stock market and world economics. Totally self-taught, he could really spot trends and had a great feel for when to buy and sell stocks. BNN and Bloomberg Network were on his television constantly. His training in sales made him the perfect sidekick whenever a deal had to be negotiated. We dragged him along whenever a major purchase was made, from houses to cars to televisions. Dad was also a religious man who attended church faithfully. He believed in a higher power and tried to live his life accordingly.
Dad loved sports and competition in general. He followed his Blue Jays religiously, watching every televised game and getting in on the managerial decisions. He followed PGA golf, World Curling, Jets hockey, Bombers football very closely. He loved dogs, and they loved him, and there was no greater fun than introducing them to ?people food?. No dog ever left his presence hungry.
Where Dad really excelled was at being a father and a grandfather. We were his passion. As far back as my memory goes, he was always there, at every school event, every hockey game, every curling game. Until his hospitalization, he still waited for a phone call after every curling or golf game, and patiently listened to the description of every shot, usually following this with some life advice like ?It?s just a game? or ?Just forget it and go relax?. When his namesake Joey was born in 1986, he got to do it all over again. They had a special relationship, forever bonded by sharing the same name. Grampa quickly trained Joey to tell everyone that he was ?Grampa Joe?s boy?. We had great times watching Joey?s games together, and getting together after the games with Joey to talk about them. Grampa also loved hanging around the other parents and grandparents, and quickly became ?one of the gang?. Joey made him so proud, and Joey was very proud of his Grampa Joe. Grampa revelled in all Joey?s successes and was there to talk to after any failures. Medical school for Joey meant Grampa could finally relax and stop worrying. Everywhere he hung out, people knew all about his ?boys?.
Although Dad was extremely fortunate to have had good health his whole life, the last many months were quite trying. We were fortunate to have great support from his neighbours. Neil, Jim, and Ron were there as a support for Dad, and we cannot thank you enough. Thanks to Roseanne, Neil, and Richard for helping around the house for many years. Thanks to Joyce for her Sunday morning visits. We would like to express our gratitude to the various doctors, nurses, and other health care team members who touched our lives the last few months. Your caring and compassion were fantastic, and truly appreciated. As well, thanks to Brendan and Denis for their support of Debbie, Joey and myself. Cari, he loved your visits. Adrian, your late night Christmas Eve visit was legendary, and will never be forgotten. Lastly, Joey, your courage, compassion and commitment to Grampa was inspirational.
Dad, I am very proud to have had you as my father. You have been my spiritual guide my whole life and I only hope that I live up to your ideals. We will miss you.
In keeping with Joe?s wishes, cremation has taken place and a funeral service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Coutu Funeral Chapel, 680 Archibald Street.
The Coutu Family in care of arrangements:
E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS
680 Archibald Street
204-253-5086
ejcoutu.com
Joe Ringaert
On December 26, 2012, my father, my mentor, and my best friend left our life peacefully. I had the honour and the privilege to be with him in his last moments. Dad leaves behind his loving son Ken, his grandson and hero, Joey, daughter-in-law Debbie, niece Roseanne, nephews Richard and Neil and his godchild Caite. He was predeceased by his wife Sandra, sister Rachel, and parents Richard and Hermine.
Dad was born in St. Boniface on March 11, 1926. He must have liked what he saw back then, and decided to stay there for his whole life. He was the son of Belgian immigrants, and loved to tell stories of his childhood in old St. Boniface, where everyone knew everyone else?s business. Never big on change, he moved out of his childhood home when he married mom at age 26 in 1952. After a brief stay in a house a block away, he moved to his brand new house another block away, where he lived with mom for 57 years and then by himself until his passing.
After a brief stint in the army, Dad started working for Canadian General Electric in sales, where he stayed until he retired in his late fifties. He had close to 30 years of retired life, and never missed working for a second. He spent a good number of those years solving the world?s problems over coffee with his friends, Gus, Joyce, and Andy. He was a very political animal and loved to talk Canadian and US politics. He also spent innumerable hours studying the stock market and world economics. Totally self-taught, he could really spot trends and had a great feel for when to buy and sell stocks. BNN and Bloomberg Network were on his television constantly. His training in sales made him the perfect sidekick whenever a deal had to be negotiated. We dragged him along whenever a major purchase was made, from houses to cars to televisions. Dad was also a religious man who attended church faithfully. He believed in a higher power and tried to live his life accordingly.
Dad loved sports and competition in general. He followed his Blue Jays religiously, watching every televised game and getting in on the managerial decisions. He followed PGA golf, World Curling, Jets hockey, Bombers football very closely. He loved dogs, and they loved him, and there was no greater fun than introducing them to ?people food?. No dog ever left his presence hungry.
Where Dad really excelled was at being a father and a grandfather. We were his passion. As far back as my memory goes, he was always there, at every school event, every hockey game, every curling game. Until his hospitalization, he still waited for a phone call after every curling or golf game, and patiently listened to the description of every shot, usually following this with some life advice like ?It?s just a game? or ?Just forget it and go relax?. When his namesake Joey was born in 1986, he got to do it all over again. They had a special relationship, forever bonded by sharing the same name. Grampa quickly trained Joey to tell everyone that he was ?Grampa Joe?s boy?. We had great times watching Joey?s games together, and getting together after the games with Joey to talk about them. Grampa also loved hanging around the other parents and grandparents, and quickly became ?one of the gang?. Joey made him so proud, and Joey was very proud of his Grampa Joe. Grampa revelled in all Joey?s successes and was there to talk to after any failures. Medical school for Joey meant Grampa could finally relax and stop worrying. Everywhere he hung out, people knew all about his ?boys?.
Although Dad was extremely fortunate to have had good health his whole life, the last many months were quite trying. We were fortunate to have great support from his neighbours. Neil, Jim, and Ron were there as a support for Dad, and we cannot thank you enough. Thanks to Roseanne, Neil, and Richard for helping around the house for many years. Thanks to Joyce for her Sunday morning visits. We would like to express our gratitude to the various doctors, nurses, and other health care team members who touched our lives the last few months. Your caring and compassion were fantastic, and truly appreciated. As well, thanks to Brendan and Denis for their support of Debbie, Joey and myself. Cari, he loved your visits. Adrian, your late night Christmas Eve visit was legendary, and will never be forgotten. Lastly, Joey, your courage, compassion and commitment to Grampa was inspirational.
Dad, I am very proud to have had you as my father. You have been my spiritual guide my whole life and I only hope that I live up to your ideals. We will miss you.
In keeping with Joe?s wishes, cremation has taken place and a funeral service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Coutu Funeral Chapel, 680 Archibald Street.
The Coutu Family in care of arrangements:
E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS
680 Archibald Street
204-253-5086
ejcoutu.com
On December 26, 2012, my father, my mentor, and my best friend left our life peacefully. I had the honour and the privilege to be with him in his last moments. Dad leaves behind his loving son Ken, his grandson and hero, Joey, daughter-in-law Debbie, niece Roseanne, nephews Richard and Neil and his godchild Caite. He was predeceased by his wife Sandra, sister Rachel, and parents Richard and Hermine.
Dad was born in St. Boniface on March 11, 1926. He must have liked what he saw back then, and decided to stay there for his whole life. He was the son of Belgian immigrants, and loved to tell stories of his childhood in old St. Boniface, where everyone knew everyone else?s business. Never big on change, he moved out of his childhood home when he married mom at age 26 in 1952. After a brief stay in a house a block away, he moved to his brand new house another block away, where he lived with mom for 57 years and then by himself until his passing.
After a brief stint in the army, Dad started working for Canadian General Electric in sales, where he stayed until he retired in his late fifties. He had close to 30 years of retired life, and never missed working for a second. He spent a good number of those years solving the world?s problems over coffee with his friends, Gus, Joyce, and Andy. He was a very political animal and loved to talk Canadian and US politics. He also spent innumerable hours studying the stock market and world economics. Totally self-taught, he could really spot trends and had a great feel for when to buy and sell stocks. BNN and Bloomberg Network were on his television constantly. His training in sales made him the perfect sidekick whenever a deal had to be negotiated. We dragged him along whenever a major purchase was made, from houses to cars to televisions. Dad was also a religious man who attended church faithfully. He believed in a higher power and tried to live his life accordingly.
Dad loved sports and competition in general. He followed his Blue Jays religiously, watching every televised game and getting in on the managerial decisions. He followed PGA golf, World Curling, Jets hockey, Bombers football very closely. He loved dogs, and they loved him, and there was no greater fun than introducing them to ?people food?. No dog ever left his presence hungry.
Where Dad really excelled was at being a father and a grandfather. We were his passion. As far back as my memory goes, he was always there, at every school event, every hockey game, every curling game. Until his hospitalization, he still waited for a phone call after every curling or golf game, and patiently listened to the description of every shot, usually following this with some life advice like ?It?s just a game? or ?Just forget it and go relax?. When his namesake Joey was born in 1986, he got to do it all over again. They had a special relationship, forever bonded by sharing the same name. Grampa quickly trained Joey to tell everyone that he was ?Grampa Joe?s boy?. We had great times watching Joey?s games together, and getting together after the games with Joey to talk about them. Grampa also loved hanging around the other parents and grandparents, and quickly became ?one of the gang?. Joey made him so proud, and Joey was very proud of his Grampa Joe. Grampa revelled in all Joey?s successes and was there to talk to after any failures. Medical school for Joey meant Grampa could finally relax and stop worrying. Everywhere he hung out, people knew all about his ?boys?.
Although Dad was extremely fortunate to have had good health his whole life, the last many months were quite trying. We were fortunate to have great support from his neighbours. Neil, Jim, and Ron were there as a support for Dad, and we cannot thank you enough. Thanks to Roseanne, Neil, and Richard for helping around the house for many years. Thanks to Joyce for her Sunday morning visits. We would like to express our gratitude to the various doctors, nurses, and other health care team members who touched our lives the last few months. Your caring and compassion were fantastic, and truly appreciated. As well, thanks to Brendan and Denis for their support of Debbie, Joey and myself. Cari, he loved your visits. Adrian, your late night Christmas Eve visit was legendary, and will never be forgotten. Lastly, Joey, your courage, compassion and commitment to Grampa was inspirational.
Dad, I am very proud to have had you as my father. You have been my spiritual guide my whole life and I only hope that I live up to your ideals. We will miss you.
In keeping with Joe?s wishes, cremation has taken place and a funeral service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Coutu Funeral Chapel, 680 Archibald Street.
The Coutu Family in care of arrangements:
E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS
680 Archibald Street
204-253-5086
ejcoutu.com
Joe Ringaert
On December 26, 2012, my father, my mentor, and my best friend left our life peacefully. I had the honour and the privilege to be with him in his last moments. Dad leaves behind his loving son Ken, his grandson and hero, Joey, daughter-in-law Debbie, niece Roseanne, nephews Richard and Neil and his godchild Caite. He was predeceased by his wife Sandra, sister Rachel, and parents Richard and Hermine.
Dad was born in St. Boniface on March 11, 1926. He must have liked what he saw back then, and decided to stay there for his whole life. He was the son of Belgian immigrants, and loved to tell stories of his childhood in old St. Boniface, where everyone knew everyone else?s business. Never big on change, he moved out of his childhood home when he married mom at age 26 in 1952. After a brief stay in a house a block away, he moved to his brand new house another block away, where he lived with mom for 57 years and then by himself until his passing.
After a brief stint in the army, Dad started working for Canadian General Electric in sales, where he stayed until he retired in his late fifties. He had close to 30 years of retired life, and never missed working for a second. He spent a good number of those years solving the world?s problems over coffee with his friends, Gus, Joyce, and Andy. He was a very political animal and loved to talk Canadian and US politics. He also spent innumerable hours studying the stock market and world economics. Totally self-taught, he could really spot trends and had a great feel for when to buy and sell stocks. BNN and Bloomberg Network were on his television constantly. His training in sales made him the perfect sidekick whenever a deal had to be negotiated. We dragged him along whenever a major purchase was made, from houses to cars to televisions. Dad was also a religious man who attended church faithfully. He believed in a higher power and tried to live his life accordingly.
Dad loved sports and competition in general. He followed his Blue Jays religiously, watching every televised game and getting in on the managerial decisions. He followed PGA golf, World Curling, Jets hockey, Bombers football very closely. He loved dogs, and they loved him, and there was no greater fun than introducing them to ?people food?. No dog ever left his presence hungry.
Where Dad really excelled was at being a father and a grandfather. We were his passion. As far back as my memory goes, he was always there, at every school event, every hockey game, every curling game. Until his hospitalization, he still waited for a phone call after every curling or golf game, and patiently listened to the description of every shot, usually following this with some life advice like ?It?s just a game? or ?Just forget it and go relax?. When his namesake Joey was born in 1986, he got to do it all over again. They had a special relationship, forever bonded by sharing the same name. Grampa quickly trained Joey to tell everyone that he was ?Grampa Joe?s boy?. We had great times watching Joey?s games together, and getting together after the games with Joey to talk about them. Grampa also loved hanging around the other parents and grandparents, and quickly became ?one of the gang?. Joey made him so proud, and Joey was very proud of his Grampa Joe. Grampa revelled in all Joey?s successes and was there to talk to after any failures. Medical school for Joey meant Grampa could finally relax and stop worrying. Everywhere he hung out, people knew all about his ?boys?.
Although Dad was extremely fortunate to have had good health his whole life, the last many months were quite trying. We were fortunate to have great support from his neighbours. Neil, Jim, and Ron were there as a support for Dad, and we cannot thank you enough. Thanks to Roseanne, Neil, and Richard for helping around the house for many years. Thanks to Joyce for her Sunday morning visits. We would like to express our gratitude to the various doctors, nurses, and other health care team members who touched our lives the last few months. Your caring and compassion were fantastic, and truly appreciated. As well, thanks to Brendan and Denis for their support of Debbie, Joey and myself. Cari, he loved your visits. Adrian, your late night Christmas Eve visit was legendary, and will never be forgotten. Lastly, Joey, your courage, compassion and commitment to Grampa was inspirational.
Dad, I am very proud to have had you as my father. You have been my spiritual guide my whole life and I only hope that I live up to your ideals. We will miss you.
In keeping with Joe?s wishes, cremation has taken place and a funeral service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Coutu Funeral Chapel, 680 Archibald Street.
The Coutu Family in care of arrangements:
E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS
680 Archibald Street
204-253-5086
ejcoutu.com