Rene was born in Duck Lake, Sask., the family moved to Carrot River when he was 12 years old, where his family cleared and farmed two quarter sec tions of land.

He worked in logging camps in Northern Saskatchewan and on farms threshing grain; the dirty thirty鈥檚 found him riding the rails. He worked at Port Alice on Vancouver Island for a time running a steam donkey loading rail cars.

He joined the army in 1942 and discharged as a Corporal in 1944. He married Kathleen (Kay) McCauley in 1947 in Vancouver.

They moved to Southbank in October 1950, where they homesteaded 120 acres on the shores of Francois Lake.

Rene worked on the Jacob Henkle from 1952 until 1977, and then on the Omineca Princess until his retirement in 1978.

Rene鈥檚 passion was his farm, his garden and his family.

Predeceased by his father Jacque, born in Lyon, France. His mother Cecile (Amiot), born in Paris, France. Brother Edmond and his sister Helen.

Survived by his wife of 57 years: Kay. His children: George, Dolores (Bill), Janet (Ken), Lorna (Ken), Ed (Lorena), Marie, Ray, Rena (Murray), Garry (Bobbi). Fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.