ETIENNE GRENIER

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ETIENNE GRENIER
June 9, 1938 - May 24, 2019

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Etienne Gilbert Grenier at the age of 80 years.
Dad will be deeply missed by his wife of 57 years, Doreen, children, Michel (Kathy), Lynn (Danny Lew) and Debbie (Darin Brecht), daughter-in-law Maureen Fitzsimons, grandchildren, Jordan (Riley), Brendan (Mikaela), Kathleen, Lauren, Andrew, Lindsay, Kelly (Nathan) and Connor, and great-grandson Nova. Also left to remember him are his siblings, Donald, Lorette Henderson (George), Richard (Linda), Sr. Edith and Remi (Danna), and brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry (Evelyn), Denise Cowan, Roland (Estelle), Norbert (Susan) and Karen (Gene), and a great many nephews, nieces and cousins.
Dad was predeceased by his dear son Reynold in 2007, parents, Edmond and Antoinette Grenier (nee Labossiere), parents-in-law, Emile and Alice Van Deynze (nee Devos), sisters, Denyse Lesage, Evelyne Robitaille and Simone (in infancy), brothers-in-law, Hubert Robitaille and Romeo Lesage, sister-in-law Lucie Grenier and great-niece Sarah Foidart.
Dad was born in St. Leon on June 9, 1938, the fourth child and first son of Edmond and Antoinette. He attended Cleophas School and had many fond memories of growing up on the farm with his sisters and brothers, where playing jokes was as important as hard work. In his teens he learned carpentry from his father, and met the love of his life, Doreen Van Deynze, while building a barn on her family farm.
Mom and Dad were married on September 23, 1961 and settled in St. Leon, where the four kids were born. Dad obtained his carpentry trade diploma in 1965 and started in construction with the St. Leon Co-op. In 1974 they moved to Somerset and he began a new career working on government projects "up north", where he developed his love for fishing and the outdoors. Dad had a successful general contracting business and was known for his carpentry skills. While Dad enjoyed small projects (and could fix just about anything), he also excelled at large ones. He was very proud of building the Roman Catholic Church in Somerset as well as schools and other government buildings all over Manitoba. Dad had a head for numbers and in later years almost always had a Sudoku and pen in hand. Many nephews, other relatives and friends worked with him and learned carpentry from him over the years.
While the kids grew up in Somerset, Dad gave back to the community in so many ways. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club. He enjoyed curling and spent countless hours developing the curling draws for local bonspiels. He coached ringette in the early days of the sport, and his team from Somerset won the silver medal at the Manitoba Games. Family time was important and many camping and boating trips, ski vacations and other activities were spent with extended family. Dad loved his family dearly and was always eager to spend time visiting and sharing with them. His love of chocolate, red wine and his sense of humour were legendary and widely recognized by family and many close friends.
Dad was an exceptional grandpa and loved his grandkids fiercely. He never turned down a music or choir concert, dance recital, hockey or ringette game or school event. Nothing gave him more pleasure than bragging about their accomplishments - whether big or small. He always had time and patience for little ones and taught them all his love for family, as well as how to play cards, hammer a nail, grow a vegetable garden, drive a boat and many other life skills. Mom and Dad enjoyed travels with their siblings and friends, kids and grandkids all over the world, with memorable vacations spent in the Caribbean, Australia, New York, Europe, and across Canada and the United States. In later years Dad enjoyed the cabin on Lake of the Woods, and pickerel fishing with Doreen was one of his favourite pastimes. Dad was very caring and had a knack for connecting with people. He meant so much to everyone that knew him. He was a favourite uncle, neighbour and friend to many.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Timothy's Roman Catholic Church, 135 John Forsyth Road, Winnipeg on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Reception and video will be held in the St. Timothy parish hall immediately afterwards. Interment will take place in the parish cemetery in Somerset, Manitoba at 5:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.

Adam's Funeral Home of Notre Dame de
Lourdes, Manitoba in care of arrangements.
Phone 204-248-2201

For more information and condolences,
please visit www.afh.ca

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 29, 2019