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GEORGE DEPRES  Obituary pic

GEORGE DEPRES

Date of Passing: Mar 02, 2008

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GEORGE DEPRES Peacefully on March 2nd, 2008 with his family at his side, George passed away at the age of 80 years. George will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 years, Frances, children Gina (Nelson), George (Tracey), Rob (Pam), Lisa (Jay), and Cara (John), grandchildren Renee (Jonathan), Jean-Paul, Marc, Cory, Erica, Bobby, Zachary, Danielle, Colton, Ruark, Chloe, Elizabeth and Steven and great grand-daughter, Kwan. He will also be missed by extended family and friends across Canada, France and the U.S. George was predeceased by his mother Louise, father Rene, brother Roger and sister Raymonde. Born on October 28, 1927 in Winnipeg, George remained a lifelong Winnipeger with one exception of a brief Toronto stint in his early 20s, to accommodate his sporting career. He completed his early education at Immaculate Conception School and then attended and graduated from St. Paul's High School. He truly embraced the values of St. Paul's which would influence all aspects of his personal and professional life. George's entire life was involved in sports in one role or another. From adolescent years through his early twenties, George was an avid athlete participating in hockey, football and baseball. As a player, he would agree that football was his passion with his playing career ending after having had the opportunity to play with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, an organization which he held in high regard throughout his life. He remained a proud alumni member. Coaching was very much a part of his sporting life, having coached both hockey and football. Two of his more memorable major coaching accomplishments included years with the Winnipeg Rods Junior Football Club. Trips to the Junior Canadian Championship 5 out of the 10 years of his tenure, culminated in 3 national titles. He later went on to successfully revive the dormant University of Manitoba Bison's Football Club. In just four short years, he took the program to a win in the Western Canadian Championship. Although there was no Canadian Championship that year to compete in, he retired at the end of 1966 from the Bison's where the core of that same team would go on to win the Canadian Championship the following year in 1967. George's volunteer activities would later go on to include assisting with the purchase, ownership and management of the St. Boniface Saints Junior Hockey Club, additional coaching of youth hockey and football clubs, a representative of the Canadian Sports Council as well as various positions within the local hockey scene, including Vice President and President of the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association. George's volunteer efforts also included a founding role with the Festival Du Voyageur, along with bringing a variety of sporting events to Winnipeg. He was a member of the committee that organized the first World Junior Hockey Championship which took place in Winnipeg in 1974. In the 70s and 80s he also found time to act as an Aide to then Lieutenant Governor, Bud Jobin throughout his term as the Queen's representative of Manitoba. George was also a member of the Manitoba Hockey Foundation since 1979 and later served as President from 1997 until 2006. George continued to work in a volunteer capacity up until as recent as this past month assisting with a new program to raise funding for a variety of non sports and sports related opportunities for the students of St. Paul's High School through an organization of the school's alumni forces. George's accomplishments were recognized by the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 as a member of the 1955 Rods Football Club and later he was inducted as a builder in the all around category in the 2006 Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. George's professional career spanned a wide and varied degree of employment. From airline mechanic to life insurance sales, employee to independent business owner, food sales to sporting facility manager, George proved successful at each challenge he would take on. In private business, George participated in the starting, ownership and operation of a variety of businesses, including the Red Top Restaurant, Red Top Car Wash, Red Top Sporting Goods and a venture into wholesale giftware/artificial flower business. He excelled with every sales opportunity truly putting his client's interests first. In 1979, he would become the General Manager of Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation where he was responsible for several major sporting facilities in Winnipeg, including the Winnipeg Arena, Stadium and Veledrome, as well as the Highlander Sports Complex. This allowed George the opportunity to blend both his business and sporting interests within his career. Following his retirement in 1994, George spent many happy years at his second home in Sandy Hook, Manitoba where he and Fran enjoyed many family gatherings. The family wishes to give thanks to the staff at Sturgeon Creek Residence and the palliative care team of nurses and homecare as well as the Grace Hospice for all of their kindness and support. George and his children would like to give special thanks to his wife Fran for her love and support which allowed him to stay home during most of his illness, where he was happiest. George was also very grateful for his life- long friendships with Paul Cholakis and Jeep Woolley. Their continued support throughout his illness provided him with the needed strength and comfort to move forward. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of George's life will be held on Thursday, March 6 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2400 Portage Avenue. The Coutu family in care of arrangements: E.J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald St. 253-5086

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 04, 2008

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