JEAN ARMAND GERARD LE SANN

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JEAN ARMAND GERARD LE SANN It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Armand on December 7, 2013, at St. Anthony's Hospital in The Pas, at the age of 74 years. He is survived by his wife Kathy; children Ginette, of Winnipeg, Philippe, Joel (Merrill), Alain (Jackie), Edith (Shawn), Armand (Ashley), and Roland, all of The Pas; and grandchildren Nicholas, Tyler, Brennan, Lakota, Owen, Justin, Nathan, Eli, Maeve, Hannah, Jacob, Eric, Abigail, Henry, Rachelle, and Rielle. Armand is also survived by his brother Yves "Joe" (Ellie) of Crossfield, AB; sisters Marie McCreight of Regina, Euphrasie (Hubert) Clement of Montreal; Aline (Joe) Raverty of Vancouver; and Josephine Bernard of St. Francois Xavier, MB; sister-in-law Emma Le Sann of Winnipeg; brother-in-law Irving Bansfield of Ottawa; and by mother-in-law Edith Braine, sisters-in-law Corinne (Dennis) of Broadview, SK, Lorraine (Ferd) of Winnipeg, and brother-in-law Doug (Lori) of Winnipeg; and many nieces and nephews. Armand was predeceased by his parents Alain Marie Le Sann and Euphrasie (née Kerleroux), sister Anne-Marie Bansfield, brothers Frank and Alain, sister-in-law Doris (née Judson), brothers-in-law Max McCreight, Normand Bernard and Rick Shand. Armand was born August 28, 1939 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He spent his first years on the family farm at Theodore, then in 1945 the family moved to Elie, Manitoba. He earned his Bachelor of Science in 1963 and then his Master of Soil Science in 1968 from the U. of M. On a trip to Cranberry Portage in 1959 to visit his sister who was teaching there, he and his father toured the Carrot Valley west of The Pas. The grass was as tall as the hood of the truck and he realized the agricultural potential. For 10 years Armand with his parents broke land and put in crops in the Carrot Valley in the summer; during those winters he studied and worked in Winnipeg. In 1970, Armand married Kathleen Shand of Winnipeg. Together they raised seven children while building up their mixed grain and cattle operation. Armand looked forward to the annual Spring bull sales, Regina's Agribition and Brandon Fair to see the latest in farm machinery. He instilled in his children the value of hard work and they learned to appreciate the natural and cultivated beauty of the country. Over the course of his farming career, he was active in many producer organizations such as the Opasquia Agricultural Society, the Grassland Society and the local farmers' association, as well as Keystone Agricultural Producers, Port of Churchill Committee, 4H and others. He was an agricultural instructor in several rural communities during the winters before starting the cattle operation. He had a lifelong interest in politics. Armand will be remembered as a quiet and gentle man of faith with a strong work ethic and a good sense of humour. We wish to thank Rev. Jack Herklotz for his home visits which meant a great deal to Armand, the staff at Manitoba CancerCare at St. Boniface Hospital, Dr. Pinder, Lesley Harvey and staff at St. Anthony's Hospital, The Pas, friends and neighbours for their kind words and gestures, and Neil Hemauer for his care of final arrangements. In accordance with Armand's wishes, cremation has taken place. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in The Pas. Private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Carrot Valley Community Centre Inc. would be appreciated by Armand's family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 13, 2013