Obituary of William Lightbody

William "Bill” Lightbody of Moose Jaw, SK, and formerly Bateman and Gravelbourg, SK, passed away on Friday, April 4, 2014, at the age of 89 years. Bill was born to James and Clara Lightbody on September 10, 1924 on the family farm in the Coppen District. He was a brother to Robert, Kenneth, Gordon, Jean and Lorne. He attended Rouen School for grades 1 through 10, and walked one and a half miles to and from school each day with his siblings. In the winter when it was really cold, Bill’s father hooked up the horse and wagon to take them to school. Bill loved playing baseball at school, and was really good at it. Rouen School had a very good baseball team and they won many games against other schools in the district. Bill had a love for music and taught himself to play guitar, saxophone and trumpet, with saxophone being his favorite. While growing up, Bill’s father played violin, his mother played piano, Bill would play the guitar, and the entire family would sing together. Music was always a very important part of Bill’s life. After Bill completed his grade 10, he worked on the family farm at Coppen. He also helped out on his Uncle Jack and Aunt Cora Lightbody’s farm. Bill attended a lot of dances in Bateman, and this is where he met Irene Hansford. Bill and Irene were married in Bateman on July 1, 1949, and they moved to the Hansford family farm near Bateman, where they settled to make their living farming and raising their family. They were blessed with four children, Murray, Linda, Vernon and Shelley. They farmed 7 quarters of land and raised cattle, horses and pigs. Bill and Irene built up their beautiful farm yard by planting many trees and gardens, with a variety of flowers, shrubs, fruit trees and a huge vegetable garden. They also built fish ponds, brooks, waterfalls, a bridge, gazebo and playhouse. Bill could fix any piece of machinery and was a skilled carpenter and handyman. He was active in the Bateman community and a member of the Bateman United Church and the Bateman Lodge. He helped to build the Bateman Rink, coached hockey, loved to curl and helped out while his children attended the Wiwa Hill 4H Club. In the early years Bill also played music with a band from Gravelbourg. Bill quit drinking in 1972 and became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, helping many others who also struggled with the disease of alcoholism over the years. Bill’s family was very proud that he kept his sobriety to the end of his life. In the mid 70’s Bill and Irene started a Vacation Farm and Bed and Breakfast, in addition to farming their land. They obtained a variety of animals, such as deer, miniature horses, llamas, buffalo, zebra, mountain sheep and goats, racoons, monkeys, lemurs, rabbits, skunks, peacocks, rheas, swans and a variety of other birds. Irene created a fairy tale path in the bush by the slough and Bill helped build little houses for it. They hosted many visitors and campers from around the world, had picnics, and gave many school tours and horse rides. Bill and Irene worked tirelessly, but they did it because of the joy they received from visiting with people and sharing their love of the farm yard and animals with others. During this time, Bill also played guitar and saxophone in a band with Rena Huel, Virgie Krauss and Vern Duncan. Irene was diagnosed with ALS in 1987, so they sold the land and animals and moved to Gravelbourg where Irene passed away on August 24, 1988. Bill married Lucille Bouvier (nee Gauthier) on October 28, 1989, and they bought a house in Gravelbourg. There they had many family gatherings over the years. Bill and Lucille loved to dance and play cards. They also travelled a lot to visit their family. They joined the Gravelbourg Bowling League and were both active in the Lions Club. Bill enjoyed helping out on the Csada, Bouvier and Craig farms, and he also drove the transit bus for the Gravelbourg IPI. Lucille passed away in 2004 and Bill continued to live in Gravelbourg until he met his partner, Madeline Smith, and moved to Moose Jaw. Bill and Madeline played beautiful music together and recorded a CD of old time music, which was played at Bill’s Funeral Service. They went to many dances together and played their music at seniors homes in Gravelbourg, Assiniboia and Moose Jaw. They loved to travel and even drove to Las Vegas. They enjoyed suppers at Niks place and often got together with family to visit, watch Roughrider football games, and go golfing. At age 88 Bill could still make some pretty good shots! When Madeline was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012 they were forced to sell Madeline’s house. They lived for a short time at the Bentley in Moose Jaw, then Madeline was moved to Chez Nous, then Providence Place, and Bill was moved to Chateau St. Michael where he resided until he became ill and required emergency surgery in Dec. 2013. Bill stayed active and continued to play his music and entertain the residents at Chateau St. Michael until he got sick. Since that time, Bill suffered from a lot of health problems, and was in and out of the hospital, until he was moved to the Extendicare Nursing Home at the end of Feb. 2014, where he passed away. Bill will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Bill is survived by his family, son Murray Lightbody (Phyllis Woeppel); daughter Linda Csada (nee Lightbody); son Vernon Lightbody; daughter Shelley (Larry) McCrea (nee Lightbody); grandchildren Darren (Brittany) Csada, Kevin (Lauren) Csada, Scott (Erin) Bolen, Kimberly Bolen, Christa Csada and Tyler Bolen; great grandchildren Addison Csada and Brady Csada; Lucille’s children Maria (Henri) Lepage, Edna (Bart) Eliasson, Angele Gilliland, Denise (John) Koshman, Claudette (Jack) Craig; daughters –in-law Karen Richmond, Vivian Bouvier; his siblings Jean (Ken) Burton and Lorne Lightbody; sisters-in-law Fran Humphrey and Vera Astleford; Bill’s partner Madeline Smith; her children Earl (Roxanne) Smith and Pamela Dowsett (Howard Hines); and all of their families. Predeceased by his first wife Irene Lightbody (nee Hansford); second wife Lucille Lightbody (nee Gauthier); son-in-law Brian Csada; Lucille’s sons Bernard Bouvier and Marc Bouvier; his parents James and Clara Lightbody; siblings Robert, Kenneth and Gordon. Funeral Service was held on Friday, April 11, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK, with Reverend Linda Tomlinson-Seebach officiant. The eulogy was shared by Darren Csada, Kevin Csada, Scott Bolen, Larry McCrea and Maria Lepage. Readers were Kim Bolen, Christa Csada and Maria Lepage. Soloist Henri Lepage was accompanied by pianist Janique Wilson. Urn bearer was Tyler Bolen. An honour guard was formed by the Gravelbourg Lions Club. Interment took place at the Bateman Community Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of Bill to the Gravelbourg Lions Club, Box 668, Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0, were greatly appreciated. Bill’s family would like to thank the staff of Chateau St. Michael and Moose Jaw Extendicare for the wonderful care Bill received, as well as their family and friends for the love, support and compassion shared during this difficult time. Online condolences can be shared at www.pichehawkinsgrondinfuneralchapels.ca. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels, Assiniboia & Gravelbourg.