Peacefully at home, Sunday, December 10th, 2023, Lawrence passed away with family by his side, at the age of 90.
He leaves to mourn his wife of 61 years, Joan (née Forster), six children: Judith (Rhéal) Robidoux, Chris (Julia) Allen, Deanna (Jaime) Hutchison, Carla (Chris) Pouteau, Alex (Jolene) Allen, Paul (Kristal) Allen; 20 grandchildren: Brian (Meghan), Stéphane (Cassidy), Reg, Jocelyne, Joël and Nathalie Robidoux; Emily (Jacques) Fourie and Collin Allen; Daniel (Natalia), Erica, Chad and Leah Pouteau; Brodie and Mira Allen; Gabriella Allen; and Jessy, Lily and Maya Hutchison.
He leaves seven great-grandchildren: Rhett, Jagger, Reese, Tripp and Vienna Robidoux; Georgia and Vaughn Robidoux.
He also leaves to mourn two brothers, George and Maurice, one sister, Ellen Poulsen; two brothers-in-law, Joe and Greg Forster, two sisters-in-law, Judith Rock and Marie Green, and their families.
Lawrence was predeceased by two granddaughters, Ashley and Hope Allen, his parents, Edward and Leah (née Funke), brother, Don, sister, Theresa, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Lawrence was born on May 2, 1933 in his maternal grandparents’ log cabin home. He attended school - first at McDermott and later at St. Daniel - until Grade 8, the highest grade provided; and his natural logic, practicality, and intelligence were evident throughout his life. He worked for a few years in Winnipeg and came home to St. Daniel and married the love of his life, Joan, in 1962. Together they bought 160 acres, built a life, and raised their six children. Lawrence practiced his Catholic faith and rarely missed Sunday mass.
Dad was a self-taught master-of-all-trades and his ability to repair, fix, or build anything from a self-designed sparrow trap to a house, served in helping provide for his family. He took pride in his Hereford cattle, enjoyed trapping moles, shooting magpies and was always up for a rousing game of cards. Both mom and dad loved their farmyard and planted hundreds of evergreen trees over the years. In recent years the farmyard became a pumpkin patch raising pumpkins for charity.
Lawrence was a big kid at heart and loved teasing, joking and playing with his beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. His one-liners were legendary and his wit was second to none, right up until his passing - if you asked him how he was feeling, he replied: “with my fingers”. The memories of his unique and especially dry sense of humour will remain with us all.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, 1155 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3G1 - in memory of his beloved Ashley and Hope.
Prayers and viewing will be held Friday at 7:30 pm at the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carman, Manitoba. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 16th at the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carman, Manitoba at 1:00 pm with interment to follow in the St. Daniel Cemetery.
He leaves to mourn his wife of 61 years, Joan (née Forster), six children: Judith (Rhéal) Robidoux, Chris (Julia) Allen, Deanna (Jaime) Hutchison, Carla (Chris) Pouteau, Alex (Jolene) Allen, Paul (Kristal) Allen; 20 grandchildren: Brian (Meghan), Stéphane (Cassidy), Reg, Jocelyne, Joël and Nathalie Robidoux; Emily (Jacques) Fourie and Collin Allen; Daniel (Natalia), Erica, Chad and Leah Pouteau; Brodie and Mira Allen; Gabriella Allen; and Jessy, Lily and Maya Hutchison.
He leaves seven great-grandchildren: Rhett, Jagger, Reese, Tripp and Vienna Robidoux; Georgia and Vaughn Robidoux.
He also leaves to mourn two brothers, George and Maurice, one sister, Ellen Poulsen; two brothers-in-law, Joe and Greg Forster, two sisters-in-law, Judith Rock and Marie Green, and their families.
Lawrence was predeceased by two granddaughters, Ashley and Hope Allen, his parents, Edward and Leah (née Funke), brother, Don, sister, Theresa, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Lawrence was born on May 2, 1933 in his maternal grandparents’ log cabin home. He attended school - first at McDermott and later at St. Daniel - until Grade 8, the highest grade provided; and his natural logic, practicality, and intelligence were evident throughout his life. He worked for a few years in Winnipeg and came home to St. Daniel and married the love of his life, Joan, in 1962. Together they bought 160 acres, built a life, and raised their six children. Lawrence practiced his Catholic faith and rarely missed Sunday mass.
Dad was a self-taught master-of-all-trades and his ability to repair, fix, or build anything from a self-designed sparrow trap to a house, served in helping provide for his family. He took pride in his Hereford cattle, enjoyed trapping moles, shooting magpies and was always up for a rousing game of cards. Both mom and dad loved their farmyard and planted hundreds of evergreen trees over the years. In recent years the farmyard became a pumpkin patch raising pumpkins for charity.
Lawrence was a big kid at heart and loved teasing, joking and playing with his beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. His one-liners were legendary and his wit was second to none, right up until his passing - if you asked him how he was feeling, he replied: “with my fingers”. The memories of his unique and especially dry sense of humour will remain with us all.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, 1155 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3G1 - in memory of his beloved Ashley and Hope.
Prayers and viewing will be held Friday at 7:30 pm at the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carman, Manitoba. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 16th at the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carman, Manitoba at 1:00 pm with interment to follow in the St. Daniel Cemetery.