Emile Arnal

Emile (King) Arnal

On May 13th, 2022, surrounded by his loving family, Emile Edouard Arnal peacefully embarked on his journey home. He leaves to cherish so many years of memories, his wife Doreen, daughters and sons-in-law Carole and Norbert Tanguay, Joanne and René Rivard and Marina and Brian McCallum, his grandchildren Kristy Tanguay (Leland Whitford), Cale (Genevieve) Tanguay, Kristopher Rivard, Hannah, Julia and Clarke McCallum, and his great grandchildren Austin (Chase) and Melissa Tanguay-Whitford. Left to fondly remember their friendship are brothers-in-law Clifford and Beulah Morison and Orville and Doreen Olson, Dick and his special kids across the road, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

In heaven, he will be reunited with his infant twins, Joseph and Mary, his parents, Marcel and Bernadette (Lalonde), his sibling Sister Alice Arnal m.o., his half siblings Jeanne (Joseph) Dupras, Marguerite (Emile) Syrenne, Paul (Jeanne), Cécile (Aimé) Dureault, Gabriel (Marguerite), Auguste (Marthe), Léon (Berthe) (Jessie) Morisset, his in-laws Fredrick and Mabel (Johnson) Morison, Edna (Allen) Harvey, Merie Olson and many dear friends and neighbours.

Emile was born on December 18th, 1927 and lived most of his life on the family farm north of Fannystelle, MB. As a young child, he remembers having to stay in the convent to attend school in town. Next, he boarded at Maison Chapelle, a French school/residence for boys in St. Boniface. Dad’s lessons were derived from life and he soon learned that school was a lonely place to be. Things were looking up when he attended St. Paul’s College where Emile would develop his lifelong love for sports, in particular for hockey. “King”, as he would come to be known, became a goaltender in college when few were willing to risk the dangers facing an unmasked netminder. Returning home to farm as a young man, he would continue to play hockey for Fannystelle’s team, for Carman’s team and for most neighbouring towns including Coach Hextall’s team in Poplar Point. In his day, he had proven himself to be a formidable goalie who welcomed the opportunity to play even when distance, transportation and evening chores proved challenging.

In later years, King was an equally tough competitor in his hockey pools, an activity he continued to enjoy with his girls. King was a hockey fanatic, recording the stats of his players into his final days. Let that be a lesson. Find your passion and you will have it forever.

In Mom, Dad found his forever love. On October 9th, 1952, he married Doreen Morison, a devoted wife and mother, who would be by his side for almost 70 years working together to build their home, raise their girls, work the farm, tend to their elderly families, support their community, parish and church and nurture friendships. Their partnership and devotion would serve as inspiration to us all.

Dad modelled strong values for his family like the importance of a hard day’s work, of putting others first and of being fair and honest. He demonstrated concern and generosity toward others in their time of need. Dad was always there in our time of need! He was a humble man who managed life through simple means, his wife’s good cooking, his radio with the morning paper and his great sense of humour.

As years passed, Dad and Mom enjoyed their winters as snowbirds reconnecting with neighbours, old friends and new in Arizona and California. With grandchildren came new experiences and destinations for travel including Florida and Oakville, ON. Home or away, Grandpa and Grandma loved to support their grandchildren, be it cheering at an athletic event, attending an academic achievement or simply helping them to get settled on their own. There is nothing Grandpa wouldn’t do for his grandkids.

A shrewd card player, Dad shared his love for cards with his kids, his neighbours and friends until his arthritic fingers could play no more. Be it cribbage, casino or bumps, Dad usually had your next play anticipated or your hand counted before you could put it down!

Emile valued experience and loved to entertain with his stories of long ago, of his farming days, of good years and bad, of people and events that always concluded with a simple truth or a lesson learned. Throughout his 94 years, Emile had acquired the knowledge not found in textbooks, experiences that when combined with his sharp mind, gave him the perspective to make sound judgements. Like his own father, Dad’s opinion or wisdom was often sought and always valued.

Retirement from the farm 9 years ago would have them welcomed to Carman by new neighbours and friends. Here, Dad would continue to thrive on his determination and Mom’s support until his age would trump his grit. Dad made it to see spring, “play-off season” and the promise of new life.

Emile’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Doctor Atchison who promised to keep Emile his happiest and healthiest for the longest time possible and he did. A debt of gratitude is also owed to the wonderful staff of the Carman Memorial Hospital whose reception, patience, and attention to Dad’s care and comfort was a gift to us all, never to be forgotten.

Whether you knew him as Emile or Amil, Dad or King, Grandpa or Grandpa Tractor, know that you touched his heart and in return may you remember him with a smile when you catch one of his favourite jokes or expressions, ponder his wisdom or recall one of his stories of bygone days.

A Celebration of Emile’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 24th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in Fannystelle, MB. Out of respect for our Dad and concern for our Mom, we ask that you please wear a mask in attendance.

The service will be available to view via Live Streaming. If you would like your name to appear in the guestbook please email your name to office@afh.ca

If friends so desire, donations can be made in his memory to; Sacred Heart Church Building Maintenance Fund, Box 67, Fannystelle, MB, R0G 0P0 or Carman Palliative Care, Box 610, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0

Adam’s Funeral Home of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba in care of arrangements.  Phone 204-248-2201.  To view the service details and leave condolences, please visit www.afh.ca

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Emile Arnal, please visit our floral store.