RENE "DUKE" BRELAND

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RENE "DUKE" BRELAND Peacefully, with his family at his side, on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 Rene "Duke" Breland passed away at the age of 85 years at the Percy E. Moore Hospital in Hodgson, MB. Rene was born on November 4, 1918 in St. Francois Xavier, MB, the third child of Alexandre and Alexina Breland where he grew up and went to school. As a young man in the 1930s, Rene moved to the Burnt Lake (Chatfield) area in the Interlake to work and he remained in this area farming and raising his family. Rene is survived by his wife of 54 years Cecile; his daughter Linda Wilson (John) his sons, Robert and David (Lorna) and his grandchildren, Trevor Wilson (Tracie), Nicole Wilson (Darren) and Deanna Breland. Rene is also survived by in-laws Berthe Breland, Violet Welsh, Yvonne Seneshen, Agnes Klippenstein, Helene McRae, Therese Leochko, Teddy (Annette) Welsh and Rita Newman; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Leah; his brothers, Guy, Phillippe, Leon, Robert, Roman and Roland. He was predeceased by brothers-in-law Jim Houston, Frank Welsh, Leo Welsh, Albert Welsh, Charles Browning, John Seneshen, Ed Klippenstein, Albert Lavallee, Louis Lamoureux and Walter Leochko. Rene served with the Canadian Army throughout Europe during the Second World War and he was an active Legion member with the Arborg Legion Branch No. 61. After returning to Canada, Rene married Cecile and they lived and farmed in the Burnt Lake area until 1975 when they moved to Poplarfield. While farming in Burnt Lake, Rene also worked as a truck driver on many construction projects throughout northern Manitoba and made many friends during his travels. Rene enjoyed people when they would drop by to visit, he was a great story teller particularly about the long-ago days or his time spent overseas, he liked old-time music and dancing, especially the Red River Jig, he liked playing crib with his family and with his local group of friends always teasing when he won, and becoming serious when he lost. The family would like to thank medical staff and the nursing staff at the Percy E. Moore Hospital for giving Rene and his family care, kindness and compassion these last few days. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20 at the Eriksdale Recreational Centre and the service will conclude at the hall. A private graveside service will take place at a later date. Active pallbearers will be Teddy Welsh, Wayne Lavallee, Tony Welsh, Mike Leochko, Frank Sikora, and Trevor Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Leduchowski, Norman Shaw, John Sinclair, Darren Toth, Joan Marquette, Lorna Klippenstein, Daniel Lapka and Bernice Smith. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba or to the Canadian Cancer Society of Manitoba. Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Home, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 19, 2003