Obituary of Louis Fournier

Louis George Fournier passed away with family by his side on January 7, 2019, at the age of 94 years. Louis was born on the Fournier homestead, 27-06-08-W3, north of Ferland, SK on February 3, 1924. He was the third oldest child of Louis and Angelina (née Bouvier) Fournier and grew up in a family of 8 girls and 3 boys. After completing Grade 8, Louis began working full time on the family farm, raising cattle and other livestock, growing wheat, and tending to large gardens. At the age of 19, Louis met the love of his life, Thérèse Monette, at a wedding dance in Ferland. They were married on November 29, 1944, in a double wedding ceremony shared with her brother Marcel. Louis and Thérèse were blessed with 7 children, Jocelyne, Marcelle, Paulette, Judith, Ronald, Norman and Jo-Ann. In 1950, Louis rented his first 3 quarter sections of land. Over the next 20 years, he acquired grain producing farmland in the Lafleche, Glenworth, McCord, Kincaid, Meyronne, Hazenmore and Ferland areas. He took big chances but was passionate about building a large farming operation. Later, when Louis made the decision to lease all his farmland, he found a new passion selling Valmar farm equipment, and became the top seller of Valmar in western Canada on several occasions. Louis was hard working, strong and loving. Louis and Thérèse never asked for much, lived a modest life, never took anything for granted, and were exceptionally generous to their children and grandchildren. Louis took great pride in seeing his family grow, and always showed a keen interest in their lives. Louis knew his share of tragedy, losing his first-born daughter and cherished son Norman. But his love for family and faith gave him strength to love life without bitterness and instill in his family a gratitude for every day they had together. His family and role as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were most important to him. He cherished the 72 years spent with his wife Thérèse, and their time spent together is nothing less than a great testament to their love for each other. Louis was an engaging storyteller and encyclopedia historian. He enjoyed reading, watching anything business related, and enjoyed arguing the finer points well past his 90th year. He also loved to hold court to discuss and debate political, business and farming stories of the day. He had a quiet dignity, respecting himself the way he respected others. Louis’ life was well lived. While he is solely missed by family and fondly remembered by many, he has finally earned his rest. Louis is survived by his loving family, daughter Jocelyne (James) Gentile, granddaughter Christine (Jim) Pirillo, great-grandchildren Alexandra, Samantha, Ryan; daughter Marcelle McKee, grandson Paul (Lisa) McKee, great-grandson Jason, granddaughter Alison McKee; daughter Paulette (Sam) Hawkins, granddaughter Guylaine (Owen) Green, great-grandchildren Garrett Ostrosky, Brianna (Trevor) Lock, Arielle Green, grandson André (Michelle) Pinsonneault, great-grandchildren Vincent, Simone, granddaughter Ariane (Stéfan) Piché, great-grandchildren Ève, Amélie, grandson François (Angie) Pinsonneault, great-grandchildren Sydney, Campbell; daughter Judith (Cliff) Rutten, grandson Justin Rutten, granddaughter Leanne (Rob) Harasymchuk, great-grandchildren Ethan, Michael, Thomas, grandson Mark (Kelsey) Rutten, great-grandson Nash, grandson Matthew Rutten, grandson Jonathan Rutten; son Ronald (Penny) Fournier, grandson Marc Fournier, great-grandson Sabastian, grandson Paul Fournier, great-grandchildren Chloé, Holden, granddaughter Chantal (Adam) MacGillivray, great-grandchildren Ava, Breyah, Surrey, Callum, granddaughter Elène (Soheil) Fournier, great-grandchildren Jude, Harlow; daughter Jo-Ann Bouvier, granddaughter Maureen (Kevin) Grant, great-granddaughters Samantha, Sophie, granddaughter Colleen (Scott) Sherven, granddaughter Jacqueline Bouvier (Riley Gauthier); siblings Eveline (Lawrence) Janis, Lorraine Godberson, Gérard (Diane) Fournier, Lise (Skip) Brooks; sister-in-law Terry Fournier. Predeceased by his wife Thérèse (née Monette) Fournier; son Norman Fournier; parents Louis and Angelina (née Bouvier) Fournier; son-in-law Wayne McKee; grandson Vincent Gentile; son-in-law Guy Pinsonneault; siblings Germaine (Hervé) Smith, Angéline (Albert) Marcotte, Denise (Carl) Hnilica, Hélène (Michael) Donauer, Alice (Ernest) Kupchyck, Gaston Fournier; sister-in-law Bernice Fournier; brothers-in-law Ed Godberson, Gérard (Cecile) Monette, Marcel (Yvette) Monette; nieces and nephews Morris Marcotte, Bernice Goertzen (née Donauer), Dianne Fournier Rita Fizell (née Smith), Denis Smith, Paul Fournier, Richard Monette, Gilles Monette. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, July 6, 2019, 1:00 p.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK, with Father Carlos Jimenez celebrant. Cross bearer was Claude Piché. Lighting of the paschal candle by Judith Rutten and Jo-Ann Bouvier. Readers were Paul McKee and Maureen Grant. Prayers of the faithful were shared by Matthew Rutten, Alison McKee, and Guylaine Green. Offertory gifts were presented by Louis’ grandchildren. Musicians were Leanne Mann and Kevin Grant. The eulogy was shared by Ronald Fournier. Urn bearers were Jocelyne Gentile and Marcelle McKee. Private family interment took place at the Ferland Cemetery, Ferland, SK. Memorial donations in memory of Louis to Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral Restoration Fund, Box 540, Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0, were greatly appreciated.