STANLEY G. LA ROQUE -

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STANLEY G. LA ROQUE 1916 - 2002 "Celebrating a life well lived" In the early hours of June 5, 2002, following a lengthy fight with emphysema, Stanley Gerald (Rocky) La Roque died in Vista Park Lodge with family at his side. He was in his 87th year. He is survived by Ivy his loving wife of more than 50 years; his sons, Larry (life partner Gary Paul) of Vancouver, Dale formerly of Vancouver, now of Winnipeg; daughter Judi, from a previous marriage and three grandchildren of Whitehorse, YT; sister Glady (Mike) Borys of Winnipeg; sisters-in-law, Eileen La Roque of Holland, MB, Florence La Roque of Winnipeg, Elsie Brooking of Shoal Lake, MB; brother-in-law Franklin Simpson of Burnaby, BC; 10 nieces and nephews; 10 great-nieces and nephews; seven great-grandnieces and nephews; and many American relatives. Stan will be dearly missed by his longtime friend of 60 years, Lawrence (Wes) Wesley. On May 1, 1916 Stanley was born on the now fifth generation family homestead on the banks of the Assiniboine River, north of Holland. His father Harold died during the 1918 flu epidemic. Left with three young sons to care for, his mother Mary moved her boys to Humbolt, MN to live with the Norwegian side of the family. In the late 1920s Mary married Leonard La Roque and Stanleys little sister Glady was born. The family returned to the homestead. The "Great Depression" of the 1930s grew worse and work on the farm became scarce. Stanley joined thousands of other poor young men and "rode the rails" across the prairies to the west coast of Canada looking for work. Only 14 years old, he worked in lumber camps, laboured on farms and depended on the generosity of others to survive. With the Depression deepening, Stan joined the "March on Ottawa" in 1935 when it began in Vancouver. Thousands took to the rails and headed for Ottawa. They demanded the Conservative government change its policies that were devastating the poor. Fearing the advancing masses the federal government crushed the march at Regina. Stan, along with many others, was arrested at gunpoint and detained in the Regina football stadium. When released, he returned to the family farm. Stan enlisted in the 3rd Division Signal Corps in June 1940 and joined the war in Europe. The next four years were spent in the south of England preparing for the allied invasion of Europe. Much of this time was spent billeted at Sir Hugh John Charter House near Cowfold, Sussex. Stan was among the first troops to land at Juno Beach on the Normandy coast near Benes Sur Mer on June 6, 1944. He fought in the battle to liberate Caan and marched north towards the Netherlands. For medical reasons, Stan was shipped back to England from Oostende, Belgium in November 1944. He returned to Canada in January 1945. Once back in Winnipeg, Stan spent a short time with the street railway and then 29 years with the Royal Canadian Post Office. Rocky made many friends working as a "postie" in St. Vital. For over 55 years, Rocky was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion, St. Vital Branch. Following his retirement in 1976 and before his failing health prevented him, he and Ivy spent many years visiting with family and friends across the Prairies and British Columbia. Special thanks to Drs. Salem and Chopany and all the caring, compassionate, over-worked and underpaid staff at the Victoria Hospital, the Misericordia Hospital and the Vista Park Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Manitoba Lung Association. At Stanleys request, a graveside service will be held at Bethal Cemetery, near Treherne, MB at a later date. A memorial to celebrate Stanleys life will be held this September in Winnipeg. Dad, Stanley, Stan, Rocky We will miss your humour, your intelligence, your "vice like" hand shake And the twinkle in your eye. "Others have lost This we know But he was ours And we will miss him so" Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 455 LAGIMODIERE BLVD. 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2002