Obituary of Roland LeBlanc

Roland LeBlanc

It is with profound sadness to announce the passing of Dr. Roland LeBlanc on August 26, 2023 at the age of 97 years in the arms of his loving wife of 44 years, Terry (née Boire)

Roland was born July 15, 1926 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Gravelbourg.  He was the eldest son of 7 children of Lionel & Adèle (Lizée) Leblanc.  He began his education at Le Jardin d’Enfance for 7 years and finished his grade 13 at College Mathieu.  While attending school he also helped his father Lionel, who owned the LeBlanc Red & White Store, driving cattle to Moose Jaw.  During this time, he had a very keen interest in medicine and decided to study at the University of Laval. Upon receiving his degree in medicine, he interned in Moose Jaw under Doctor Wigmore.  A year later he then worked at the hospital in Willow Bunch and was approached to start a practice in Gravelbourg.

He married Angèle Mailhot and together they raised four children, Daniel, Roxanne, Monique and Roger.  During his many years of his busy medical practice, he was also involved with many other positions and served as Mayor from 1960-1964.  At that time, he was responsible for annexing part of the Smith land on the east side of town.

 He was a real enthusiast for flying and enjoyed many years of flying his own plane. He was also involved with organizing the landing strip south of Gravelbourg.

 He was manager and coach for the “Hornets” hockey team from 1956-1958 and they were the Saskatchewan Intermediate Champions.

In 1979 he married Terry (née Boire) in Picture Butte, Alberta.  A few years later they decided to make their home in Sherwood Park, Alberta, where he continued to practice medicine.  Together they raised two children, Joel and Chantal.  They lived life to the fullest, enjoying traveling, flying, tennis, squash, racket ball, downhill skiing and he even water skied till he was in his 80s.

In 2007 he decided it was time to retire and they moved to Hastings Lake for 11 years, enjoying the beauty of nature at its best. Unfortunately, in 2017 he was diagnosed with Dementia/Alzheimer’s, and they made the decision to move back to Gravelbourg.

Roland will be dearly missed; our hearts are broken with the loss of this special man.  A man with a golden heart and his hard-working skilled hands are now at rest.  He also was a very passionate, loving man and devoted to all his family.  He will always be in our hearts, our minds and our souls.  He was the bright light in our lives and will always shine in our hearts.  He was a very dedicated and compassionate doctor, that would go above and beyond for his patients.

Roland is survived by his wife of 44 years, Terry LeBlanc, son Joel (Kristi Mortell) LeBlanc, daughter Chantal (Cory Hewko), granddaughter Solara and grandson Ryker.  Daughter Roxanne LeBlanc, granddaughter Nicole Jordan (Kurt) and great granddaughter Evangeline.  Grandson Daniel (Melanie) Washbrook, great granddaughters Callie and Anya. Daughter Monique Wood, granddaughter Adrienne, grandson Anthony Wood (Ashley), great granddaughters, Alexa and Willow. Brother Gerald LeBlanc, sisters Léonette LeBlanc, Renée Auger, brother-in-law Leo Piché and many nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by his parents Lionel and Adèle LeBlanc. Sons Daniel, Roger and Marc LeBlanc. Brothers Marcel (Lily) Leblanc, André (Denise) LeBlanc, sister Jeannine Piché, sisters-in-law Charmaine LeBlanc and Denise LeBlanc.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on September 23, 2023 at Our Lady of Assumption Co-Cathedral, @ 2:00 p.m., Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan. Roland will be laid to rest at the Gravelbourg Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations in Roland’s memory can be given to St. Joseph Hospital/ Foyer d’Youville Foundation, Box 810 Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0.