BRUNO FRANCOIS MAGNE

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BRUNO FRANCOIS MAGNE Peacefully, and with his beloved Lucille by his side, Bruno passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at the Victoria General Hospital. Left to mourn and cherish Bruno's passing are his best friend and wife, Lucille (Lesia), of 43 years; daughters Dianne (Frank) and Debbie; grandchildren Heather (Chris), Daniel (Erin) and Eric, and great-grandsons Tegan and Blake. He will be deeply missed by his brother Antoine (Odile), sisters Thérèse, Yvonne (Marcel), sisters-in-law Marcelle, Yvette and Delphine, and Lucille's family including Bill (Audrey), Monica, Betty, Trish (Bill), Mary Anne (Peter) and Marlene (René), together with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends throughout Canada, U.S.A. and Australia. Bruno was predeceased by his parents Paul and Rosa (Bosc), brothers Jean, Alban, Pierre and Charles; sister Odile; grandson Ryan; brothers-in-law Fabien, Celestin, Eugene and Jimmy, and mother-in-law Mary. Bruno François Magne was the sixth of nine children born to Paul and Rosa (nee Bosc) in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba on September 7, 1929. Bruno was raised on what is now known as a centennial family farm. He loved farm life - all the 17 horses and especially his favourite "Lindsay," who would take Bruno and his siblings to the one-room school, St. Adélard. The scar on his chin was a permanent reminder of his pony "Ned". Fall harvest was a favourite time - at a young age his dad trusted him to drive a team of horses. Bruno often reminisced about collecting scrap metal and such with Dave Rae. With the money he earned, he bought a Lazyboy chair and foot stool for his favourite Tante Josephine, who resided with them. Bruno eventually inherited this chair. Bruno continued his education at St. Boniface College where he boarded along with his five brothers. Later, Bruno felt a calling to serve the Northern Missions with the Oblates. He stayed with them for two years. During this time he painted thousands of statues of "Our Lady". He left due to health reasons. He was a pilot with the R.C.A.F. for a year. Then he was a salesman for General Bakeries and Adam's Chicklets, he worked at a service station, then at Air Canada, G.M. Guest, and the Queen's Printer. In the early 1950s in St. Charles, Bruno bought some land and built a house for his growing family. Bruno was forever grateful to Beatrice and Jude Lafleche, Ovide and Alice Dagesse and his brother Pierre and Marcelle Magne for the help they provided in his hour of need when he was alone with daughters Dianne and Debbie. He was a very loving and protective father. Bruno found his calling when he joined the Unemployment Insurance Commission. He started in 1960 as a Clerk 1. To advance in the U.I.C. employees had to be available for transfers. So, Bruno, with his two daughters, aged nine and three, moved to Moose Jaw, Calgary, Regina and Brandon. He advanced and was promoted to a Limited Authority Insurance Officer, Full Authority Insurance Officer, and Benefit Control Officer. When he retired he was Supervisor of the Insurance component in the St. Boniface Office. He was a very conscientious worker. It was in Brandon that he met the love of his life Lucille (Lesia) Brechka. They were married on July 8, 1972. In 1973 the family moved to Winnipeg. With their small Triple E trailer they travelled from Bonavista, Newfoundland to Vancouver Island. In 1984 they purchased a motorhome and in 1988 joined Thousand Trails Camping Resorts with access to many resorts in the U.S. and one in Cultus Lake, BC. They became snowbirds for three months each winter and enjoyed exploring and taking in the history and attractions of especially California, Texas, Arizona and Florida. There were many trips to Chicago and Ottawa to visit friends and relatives. Also a three month trip to the Yukon and Alaska in 1989. While driving the motorhome and towing their half-ton Ranger truck, Bruno, an excellent driver with an occasional heavy foot, was "king of the road." There were numerous camping trips around our beautiful Manitoba with extended family - Thompson, Paint Lake, The Pas, Flin Flon, The Narrows, Hecla, Spruce Woods to name a few. Within the province he would take his boat for fishing or fish from shore. Also portaged to various places in Ontario with Peter and Eddie. In 2000, Bruno and Lesia enjoyed the journey of a lifetime to the Holy Land where they walked in the footsteps of Jesus. They renewed their marriage vows at Cana. The trip was extended so they could spend a few days in Egypt. A three-week trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway from Pennsylvania to Tennessee with Peter and Mary Anne was wonderful. This time they travelled in an SUV and stayed in hotels. In 2011 they donated their motorhome to Teen Challenge but continued to enjoy Thousand Trails in the Palm Desert/Palm Springs, CA area by renting a trailer or park model with a last trip in 2013. Bruno was a jack-of-all trades. Being mechanically inclined, he liked tinkering with motors - lawn mowers, boats and even changed the motor of a car. If you needed help and gave him a call, he was known to be at your front door, with his tool box in hand, before you had hung up the phone. He helped anyone in need. His hobbies included dancing - he was the first one up on the floor; woodworking (especially children's tables and chairs); bowling; gardening; looking after his yard, especially his lawn; tending to his raspberry patch and apple trees; and watching football and hockey. Bruno was an excellent photographer - always snapping pictures, especially group family photos - he had the tripod and all the necessary attachments. Bruno was honest about his opinions and called a spade a spade. He was for the underdog. He was a proud man who followed the Golden Rule, "Do to others what you would want them to do to you". He was strong in his Catholic faith and performed all the Corporal Works of Mercy - he fed the stranger, gave clothes to the poor, visited the imprisoned, visited the sick, visited the shut-ins and mourned his losses. Whether at home or on vacation, they attended Mass and prayed the Rosary. No trip started without the recitation of a decade of the Rosary. Bruno and Lesia would stop at religious sites; three that were especially memorable were Our Lady of the Cape Shrine at Cap-de-la Madeleine and St. Anne de Beaupre Basilica in the province of Quebec; and Our Lady of the Snows outside of St. Louis, Missouri. He was a proud Canadian and Manitoban and would give out Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada pins and Winnie The Pooh postcards wherever he went. He enjoyed Folklorama, Rainbow Stage, Brandon Royal Winter Fair, The Forks, Skinners, BDI, Tim's, Morris Stampede, Austin Threshermen's Reunion, and various fairs around Manitoba. He loved dogs and birds. He had many bird houses and feeders in his backyard. A minor failure would be his inability to outwit the squirrels in his yard. As Bruno's garage can attest Canadian Tire was his favourite hobby shop. He had every tool and gardening implement they sold - you name it he had it! He had a great sense of humour. When asked where he was from, his answer was always "Plum Coulee" and his age was always "105". When five year old nephew David was in kindergarten he told his teacher he had an uncle who was 105. He was asked to bring him to show-and-tell. Long before it was popular, he was a silent Santa, for years paying it forward, whether at the Mall, grocery stores, restaurants or on his trips. He invited a complete stranger - a young man, going door to door on a chilly October evening, selling special cards for Canadian Tire - in for a meal. Everyone from far and wide was welcomed into the Magne home including a new found friend, Nobuko, from Japan. He and Lesia enjoyed hosting many family gatherings. Thanks to the Magne family, Bruno received the anointing of the sick in French from family friend Bishop Emeritus, Noel Delaquis. The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Richard Blouw, our family physician of nearly 40 years, for his exceptional compassion, expertise, care and kindness to Bruno. Our thanks to Dr. David Mymin and staff of the Lipid Clinic for their expertise and care over the last 24 years. Also to Dr. David Collister, Renal Health Unit, St. Boniface Hospital, and to all the doctors and specialists who attended to Bruno over the years. We would like to extend our appreciation for the exceptional medical care given to Bruno at the Victoria General Hospital, 4th Floor North, by the dedicated Doctors Sharkey, Dillon, Renkas, Olson, and Blouw, and the very compassionate staff of nurses, physio and occupational therapists, aides, etc. during his slightly over three week stay. To celebrate Bruno's Life, a Prayer Vigil was held at Christ The King Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. from Christ The King Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Father Varghese Thoppilan officiating at both services. Pallbearers were Phillipe Jamault, David Robinson, Daniel Adamski, Bill Pitz, Frank Adamski and Bill Watson. Interment will be at the Brandon Cemetery. In memory of Bruno, donations can be made to the Catholic Missions In Canada, 201-1155 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4T 1W2; Christ the King Memorial Fun, 847 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB R2K 1P3; or the Kidney Foundation of Canada, 1-452 Dovercourt Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3Y 1G4. E.J. Coutu and CO. Funeral Directors, 680 Archibald St., Winnipeg (204-253-5086) were in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 16, 2016