Claude Rousseau

Claude Denis Rousseau of Coronach, SK, passed away April 19, 2013 at the Assiniboia Union Hospital after a short struggle with aggressive cancer. Claude was the first child born of Jean Marc (Johnny) and Pauline Rousseau on August 31, 1948 in Willow Bunch, SK. Claude grew up on the family farm, and for a few years in the village of Fife Lake.

Claude attended school in Fife Lake from Grades 1 to Grade 8, and then completed his high school years in Coronach, graduating in 1967. Claude furthered his education at SIAST, Moose Jaw, taking accounting. He switched to university, studying at the U of R to train for teaching. After apprenticing for 4 years with the underground nickel mining company of INCO in Thompson, MB, he became a journeyman miner, and then later went back to SIAST, Saskatoon apprenticing for 4 more years with Dwayne Willford becoming a journeyman plumber in 1983.

On November 28, 1970, Claude married his high school sweetheart, Valerie Day and they moved to Thompson, MB. They lived there from 1970 to 1976, starting their family with Clayton, then Rebecca (Becky). After moving home to Coronach in 1976, they added Tyson to complete their family.

In 1983, Claude and Valerie bought the plumbing business and has operated his own plumbing business for 30 years in Coronach. Everyone knew Claude as the “plumber from the south country”. He was a talented, very hard working man, dedicated to his work and customers. For the past 22 years, Claude and his wife, Valerie, also worked for Sask Power Poplar River, under contract, running buses to and from work for the employees, as well as doing tours for the Plant and Mine. Claude did about 3 tours for Valerie, and decided that tour guiding was not his forte! Claude and his sons, Clayton and Tyson, also took on the contract for Sask Power Poplar River to maintain the water wells in and around the power plant area. Claude allowed Valerie to use part of his business space for a “Radio Shack” franchise, and then later renovated his store for the “Hot Spot Arcade”, and even later gave up part of his floor space to rent out to “Michelle’s Hairdressing”. He was a true entrepreneur.

Claude, being from the farm loved farming the land as well. He helped his dad during the harvest seasons, and after the passing of his father, he took over farming his mom and dad’s land. Claude often talked about the many years that he custom combined with Tom Cairns and his crew, as well as Bob Gent and his custom combine crew. Eventually Claude had to give up farming because of his hay fever problems.

Claude cared about his community. He served on Town Council from 1978 to 1996. He also served as chairman of the Rec Board for several years heading up the famous Regina “R Bingo” Fundraisers with Virgil Cairns as Rec Director for the Town of Coronach. He helped out on the golf course and volunteered his time wherever and whenever he could.

Claude enjoyed all sports. He especially loved playing hockey. As a young child, growing up in Fife Lake, he would toddle down to the rink, asking his idols like Gordon Maclean, and Adrian Langford to tie his skates. In his teens, he joined the Fife Lake-Coronach Combines, tying his own skates, and lacing the score boards. He tried out for the Moose Jaw Canucks and made the team, but decided he loved Valerie, more than hockey, so chose not to move away. (Good grief!) He continued playing hockey in Thompson, MB, playing for the Thompson Merchants, and then when he moved back to Coronach, in 1976, he suggested naming the Coronach team the “Coronach Merchants”, since the Town “merchants” were great sponsors of such a worthy sport. That name is still going strong today. Life after the Merchants saw Claude play for several years with the “no hit” hockey league in Coronach. Claude equally loved the game of golf. His father-in-law Marvin Day, and brother-in-law Greg Day taught him the game. The day Claude learned the game of golf was a sad day for Valerie and the kids, because from that day on, he was gone to every tournament every Sunday. But to be with their dad and their grandpa, Valerie would pack up a picnic lunch and follow behind. To win their father back, the kids all had to learn to play golf. Claude left his name on the Coronach Golf Club Marv Day memorial trophy a few times along with his sons, wife, and brothers-in-law. He held the course record with a score of 30 for many years. His dream of golf came true with a hole-in-one, in Thompson, MB at the Thompson Golf Course. Claude looked forward to his annual golf trips to Myrtle Beach with brother-in-law, Don and his buddies for their foursome competitions. Claude enjoyed the odd game of curling, and bowling. In the Coronach Bowling League, his team was known as “Ralph’s Rollers” bowling with his brother-in-law Ralph Kupper. In his younger years, he enjoyed baseball, until he was accidentally struck by a batter across the forehead, which nearly killed him. After an emergency trip to Regina, and with immediate surgery, he decided to give up on baseball. Claude loved playing cards, cribbage, and games of chance like yahtzee, computer games, and scrabble with his kids, grandkids and with friends.

Claude was a “man of all tools” handyman, but was also very artistic and particular with his work. He loved carpentry. He and his dad created his home and yard in Coronach. He loved his backhoe, and enjoyed landscaping - moving earth (and lately this past winter, moving lots of snow). I don’t think there was a task that Claude would not try. Believe it or not, Claude enjoyed his yard, sitting out in the outdoors and listening in on the woodpeckers, and such. He loved music, especially Marty Robbins, Johnny Horton, Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, but his favourite music was listening to his granddaughters Keely and Lesley singing all the time. His greatest wish was for them to record their own album someday. Claude was a family man, and he loved his 3 children dearly. He did everything he could to help them whenever they needed a hand. Claude loved his grandchildren. He recently got to meet his newest grandson Lyndon on April 9 of this year. He would sit and have coffee at Tyson and Shelly’s on weekends after the early morning bus runs and his little granddaughter, Kali would climb up on his knee for him to read or color with her. He was proud of all his grandchildren’s talents and achievements, and he told Valerie to tell them that- Tristin, Mekhi and Ashton’s hockey especially this past winter, Ashton’s singing talents, Keely and Lesley’s upcoming graduation from high school, Chantelle’s recent SIAST studies, and Dayton’s attempt at his first steps. It was with a sad heart that he had to leave you all so soon.

Claude was predeceased by his parents, Johnny and Pauline Rousseau; his paternal grandparents Armond and Rose Rousseau; maternal grandparents, Sylvain and Margeurite Berger; parents-in-law Marvin and Emma Day, brother-in law Greg Day; brother-in law Ralph Kupper; aunts and uncles Salonge (and husband Eric) Bergeron; Jean (and husband Paul) Dupperault; Henry Berger; Leon (and wife Della) Berger; Isidore Berger; Patrick Murphy, Marcel Granger, Harold Sorsdahl; Marie (and Sam) Horne; Peter (and Ina) Fritz; Andrew (and Gertrude) Fritz; Rosemarie Fritz; Ss. Rita Fritz; Delia and Carl Solberg; Cora and Bernard Bungarden; Ella and Roy Stenerson; Lila and Myron Butler; Arletta and Stewart Carnduff; (Robert Flynn); Joyce and Aubrey Sorsdahl and Nylene and Don Welsh.

Claude is survived by his wife Valerie; his children Clayton (and friend Yvonne Samuelson); Becky (and fiancé Dean Tayler); Tyson (and wife Shelly); his 9 grandchildren Chantelle, Keely, Lesley, Tristin, Mekhi, Ashton, Kali, Lyndon, and Dayton; his brother Daniel (and Elaine) of B.C; his sisters Annette (and Mike) Johnson of AB; Francine Rousseau (and Steve Maitland) of BC; Renee (and Greg Willford), Coronach; brother-in-law Don (and Anne Marie) Day, ON; sister-in-law Shirley Kupper, Coronach, sister-in law Patricia Day, AB; aunts, Marguerite Murphy, BC; Irene Granger AB; Helen Berger,SK; Leona Sorsdahl, SK; uncle, Sylvain (and wife Linda) Berger, Fife Lake, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Vigil Prayer service was held Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Coronach. Fr. Joe Strohoffer officiated. Music ministry was provided by Linda Poirier and Keely and Lesley Rousseau. Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, April 26, 2013 at St. Ignace Catholic Church in Willow Bunch. Fr. Joy Montiague and Fr. Joe Strohoffer Con-Celebrants. Honorary Pallbearers were all of Claude’s grandchildren. Becky lit the pascal candle. Mike Johnson and Don Day gave the tribute. Music ministry was provided by Dorothea Trithardt, Johnny and Maureen Sabourin as well as Keely, Lesley and Chantelle Rousseau singing “Grandpa”. Urn bearers were Clayton and Tyson. Interment followed at the Coronach Cemetery, with a power point presentation, lunch and fellowship following at the Coronach Community Hall. Donations in Memory of Claude may be made to the Coronach & Area Health Care Foundation, Box 150, Coronach, SK S0H 0Z0. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK.