John Chevalier

John Alphonse Chevalier

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of John Chevalier of Swan Lake, Manitoba (formerly of Bruxelles) on Sunday, November 25, 2007 at the Lorne Memorial Hospital, with his family by his side at the age of 80 years.

He will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 56 years, Alice (nee Simoens), his four daughters, Brenda, Cindy (Kelly Heirman), Rita (Wes VanDamme), and Lorraine (Stan Clark); his three sons, Donald (Charlene Delaquis), Albert, and Micheal (Danica Delichte).  He will also be missed by his daughter-in-law Arlette Chevalier, 20 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Also to mourn his passing are his brother Maurice (Ali) of Swan Lake, his six brothers-in-law, Daniel (Anita) Simoens of Bruxelles, Denis (Alice) Simoens of Morden, Andre (Liane) Simoens of Winnipeg, Norbert (Annis) Simoens of Holland, Gerard (Ange-Aimee) Simoens of Winnipeg, Jean Simoens (Jessie Wood) of Swan Lake and Ron Campbell of Treherne; his two sisters-in-law, Rose (Albert Gillis) of Cypress River, Angeline (Henry Durand) of Holland and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by his two sons, Gerard (1956), Gerard (1968), his parents Alphonse (1986) and Marie Chevalier (nee Godard) (1974); his in-laws Albert (1986) and Helene Simoens (nee Mangin) (1998); brother-in-law Hubert Rigaux (2006); his sister Evelyn Rigaux (2007); sisters-in-law Lorraine Campbell (1990) and Gertrude Simoens (1992).

John was born on December 10, 1926 in Cypress River.  At the age of three, his family moved to Bruxelles, the farm where he resided until his move to Swan Lake in 2004.

Besides working at home on the farm with his siblings, he attended St. Urbain School.  The countless stories that were told what Dad and Guy Lafreniere did we could never count.

On October 23, 1951 he married Alice Simoens in Bruxelles and together had nine children.  They settled on the home farm, and in addition to grain farming, he raised Herefords for many years.  In 1969, he built a hog barn and raised pigs until in 1972, when he embarked into the dairy business.  Mom and dad retired in 1983.

Travelling, wildlife, country music, taxidermy, hunting, trapping and the great outdoors had become big interests for Dad.  Along with his wife, they visited Newfoundland, Alaska, and many places in the states.  As kids, we could not wait for that postcard to come home saying what we were going to get.

Dad had great hunting and trapping skills and those skills have truly rubbed off onto his grandchildren that have learned to love it, like he did.  Many of those skills were taught by Grandpa, and will always be remembered.  Some of his proudest moments were the hunting accomplishments of his grandsons from going elk  hunting to being awarded into the Junior Record Book for a trophy deer head.

He enjoyed his time with friends having coffee at Jana’s Kitchen, finding pleasure in flower and vegetable gardening, teasing his grandchildren, running errands, and always lending a helping hand with the grandchildren who he loved very much. We celebrated his 80th birthday last year, and he loved it!  We will miss our Dad and Grandpa.

Prayers and visitation will be held at Adam’s Funeral Home on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 8pm.  Funeral mass will be held at Swan Lake Catholic Church on Saturday December 1, at 3 pm with Father John Nuygen and Father Firmin Michiels officiating. Viewing prior to service.  Interment to follow at Bruxelles Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be grandsons:  Kelsey Chevalier, Kevin Chevalier, Darcy Chevalier, Jeff Chevalier, Steven Chevalier and Paul Chevalier.

Donations can be made to the Lorne Memorial Hospital Palliative Care and/or Cancer Care Manitoba.

Adam’s Funeral Home of Notre Dame, Manitoba in care of arrangements.  Phone 248-2201 or 1-888-400-2326.  www.afh.ca