Advanced Search:


Regular Search
❮ Go Back to Listings

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ANDRE GREGOIRE After a long battle with cancer our dear Grandpa Andre went to heaven. Born September 1, 1923 in Bruxelles, Manitoba, he was the only son born to Rodolfe and Marie (Back) Gregoire. A veteran of the Second World War, he enlisted in the army in 1943. It was while stationed in Holland that he met Hermina (Min) Voskamp. They married and had one son Percy. Grandpa farmed near St. Marks and Poplar Point for many years before moving to Portage and working for Mayfair Glassware as a Satusi Glass painter and master packer/shipper. In 1972, he married Grenaline Roberts and together they ran Gregoire General Store, more commonly known as Edwin store. In 1986, Grandpa retired to Peony Farm to garden and take it easy. Never one to do things half heartedly, he proceeded to hobby garden. He fed many people from his gardens. He and Grandma were also firm believers in food as medicine and were practicers of naturopathic medicine long before it became popular. He learned to cook while in the Army and would cook and preserve food right alongside Grandma. When he became a grandfather, he did it with the same gusto as he did all things. Never one to see anyone without - he and Grandma adopted other grandchildren and were soon an important part of their lives. He spent many hours teaching his grandchildren, and was especially close to Jeff. Grandpa was an animal lover and had horses in his early years. He had two favourite dogs, Caesar and Koko, and one grandcar, Lenard. Grandpa was active in the church, Chairperson at the Church of Christ, a member of Bible Baptist Church and until recently he was the one to greet you upon arrival at Crescent Heights Chapel. Another remarkable thing about Grandpa was his amazing Oscar the Grouch collection. It began as an inside joke and grew to a collection of well over a hundred different Oscar the Grouch items. Grandpa was a can-do type of person. He built furniture, just this spring he built a large doll house for great-granddaughters. But he loved to build garden sheds. He was the ultimate reuse, reduce, recycler. He leaves to mourn and celebrate his life, Grenaline wife, partner, best friend; Percy and Carol Gregoire; Dee and Ed Harder, grandchildren Tiffany and Doug, Jeff, Jared, Victoria and Jadine with great-granddaughters Brylie and Jordee; Rob and Cheryl, grandchildren Ryan and Evangaline; Brad and Evelyn, grandchildren Michael, Matthew, Stephan, Ashley and David, great-grandchildren Logan and Beau; sisters Agnes Atkinson from Calgary, Rita Hiebert from Portage and Yvette Gregoire from Winnipeg. Viewing will be held at Crescent Heights Chapel, 1745 Saskatchewan Ave. W. in Portage la Prairie on Friday, November 25, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a short devotional at 7:30 p.m. A service will be held at Herman Prior Centre, 40 Royal Road N., Portage la Prairie on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. If friends so desire, memorial donations to Central Plains CancerCare Services, 318 Saskatchewan Avenue East, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3A7 would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Ronald Moffit Memorial Services, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (204) 856-3487.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 25, 2011

❮ Go Back to Listings