Joseph Wilfrid René Gratton

Joseph Wilfred René Gratton was born in Verdun, Quebec, on September 19th, 1953. René was the eldest child of six and has many fond memories of his family long ago. René completed school and graduated in June 1971. Due to adventure, as well as enabling a solid career, René joined the Canadian Forces that summer. He was proud. He was, though raised in Montreal, a very strong and proud Canadian.

With the Electrical Generator Systems, commonly called EGS, René served as a Construction Engineer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. René served for 26 years and, as he would add, 183 days. He served in Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Oceans, in Europe and in the Middle East. He was proud of his years of service. Warrant Officer René Gratton retired in January 1998. René, thereafter, was employed at Wal-Mart for thirteen years. Just four years ago, René truly retired. Yet, as he often said, “I was a construction engineer. Now, I am a domestic engineer.”

René and Caroline met in August 1993. Through a deep friendship and enormous love, René and Caroline married on July 6, 1996. Their marriage was so strong, so full of respect, of deep friendship, of adventure, and of everlasting love. René passed away suddenly on February 6, 2016, at home. We were together.

René’s parents, Albert and Therese, passed away many years ago. René leaves to mourn his wife, Caroline Keith-Gratton; his siblings Leo (Kathy), Robert (Susan), Pierre (Sylvie), Diane and Denise; his parents-in-law Pam and Rollie Keith; his sisters-in-law Joanne (Patrick) and Barb (Steve); his Aunt Yolande, and many nephews, nieces, endless friends, and our loving dog, Samson.