Obituary for Laird John Joseph Ouellete
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, Laird John Joseph Ouellette, loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, passed away at the age of 56 surrounded by his loving family.
Laird was born on February 26, 1964 in The Pas, MB to Real and Patricia (Voisey) Ouellette. He grew up in Dauphin, MB, graduated from the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School in 1982 and received his Instrumentation Engineering Technology diploma from Red River College in Winnipeg in 1985. Laird worked for Centra Gas/Manitoba Hydro for 33 years in Brandon and Winnipeg. On September 12, 1987 he married Teresa Ann Van Den Heuvel. Together they raised four sons, Robin, Sean, Jesse and Nathan.
Laird was predeceased by his grandparents Laird and Marie Ouellette, John and Frances Voisey; father-in-law Tony Van Den Heuvel; uncles David Voisey, Sonny Voisey, Sam Voisey, Robin Ouellette, and George Hiatt; and aunts Emily (Voisey) Althouse and Joyce (Ouellette) Hiatt. He is survived by his wife Teresa; his four sons, Robin, Sean (Kim), Jesse (Celina) and Nathan; grandchildren Keanna, Lincoln and Maverick; his parents Real and Patricia; brothers Dean (Donna), Trevor, and Rene (Robyn); sisters Francine (Mark) and Patti (Collin), and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Freida Van Den Heuvel; sisters-in-law Karen (Tim), Simone, Anita (Ken) and Tara (Todd).
Laird was a dedicated husband and father who loved his immediate and extended families passionately. Laird and Teresa were very athletic and passed this on to their boys. He was passionate about hockey and was captain of the 1982 Provincial Juvenile champions and as a Bantam player traveled to Sweden with his Dauphin teammates to participate in an international tournament at Christmas break 1978/1979. This was one of his highlights in his hockey life. Laird’s passion for hockey first expressed itself in Fort Nelson, B.C. where he spent his first five years playing hockey with his brother Dean on teams coached by his dad before moving to Dauphin in 1974. Laird was active with hockey throughout his adult life and spent countless hours preparing drills, running practices and coaching games for his four boys.
Laird was a true handyman around the house and enjoyed all mechanical challenges, he especially loved working on his boats, despite being towed in several times. He helped put himself through college by working construction in Churchill, MB. Laird and Teresa built a beautiful cottage at Hill’s Camp in Meadow Portage, MB where they spent many hours with family and friends for over 30 summers. Later in life Laird and Teresa enjoyed their winter vacations in Mexico. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, his kind and compassionate spirit and his dogged determination. Laird’s strong character provided strength for everyone close to him during his courageous struggle with cancer.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the wonderful professional care Laird received at the St. Boniface Palliative Care unit and at the Riverview Health Centre 3E Palliative Care unit.
A private memorial mass was held on Friday, March 20, 2020 at St. Charles Roman Catholic Parish.
Memorial donations may be sent to Cancer Care Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. https://support.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/site/Donation
Laird was born on February 26, 1964 in The Pas, MB to Real and Patricia (Voisey) Ouellette. He grew up in Dauphin, MB, graduated from the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School in 1982 and received his Instrumentation Engineering Technology diploma from Red River College in Winnipeg in 1985. Laird worked for Centra Gas/Manitoba Hydro for 33 years in Brandon and Winnipeg. On September 12, 1987 he married Teresa Ann Van Den Heuvel. Together they raised four sons, Robin, Sean, Jesse and Nathan.
Laird was predeceased by his grandparents Laird and Marie Ouellette, John and Frances Voisey; father-in-law Tony Van Den Heuvel; uncles David Voisey, Sonny Voisey, Sam Voisey, Robin Ouellette, and George Hiatt; and aunts Emily (Voisey) Althouse and Joyce (Ouellette) Hiatt. He is survived by his wife Teresa; his four sons, Robin, Sean (Kim), Jesse (Celina) and Nathan; grandchildren Keanna, Lincoln and Maverick; his parents Real and Patricia; brothers Dean (Donna), Trevor, and Rene (Robyn); sisters Francine (Mark) and Patti (Collin), and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Freida Van Den Heuvel; sisters-in-law Karen (Tim), Simone, Anita (Ken) and Tara (Todd).
Laird was a dedicated husband and father who loved his immediate and extended families passionately. Laird and Teresa were very athletic and passed this on to their boys. He was passionate about hockey and was captain of the 1982 Provincial Juvenile champions and as a Bantam player traveled to Sweden with his Dauphin teammates to participate in an international tournament at Christmas break 1978/1979. This was one of his highlights in his hockey life. Laird’s passion for hockey first expressed itself in Fort Nelson, B.C. where he spent his first five years playing hockey with his brother Dean on teams coached by his dad before moving to Dauphin in 1974. Laird was active with hockey throughout his adult life and spent countless hours preparing drills, running practices and coaching games for his four boys.
Laird was a true handyman around the house and enjoyed all mechanical challenges, he especially loved working on his boats, despite being towed in several times. He helped put himself through college by working construction in Churchill, MB. Laird and Teresa built a beautiful cottage at Hill’s Camp in Meadow Portage, MB where they spent many hours with family and friends for over 30 summers. Later in life Laird and Teresa enjoyed their winter vacations in Mexico. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, his kind and compassionate spirit and his dogged determination. Laird’s strong character provided strength for everyone close to him during his courageous struggle with cancer.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the wonderful professional care Laird received at the St. Boniface Palliative Care unit and at the Riverview Health Centre 3E Palliative Care unit.
A private memorial mass was held on Friday, March 20, 2020 at St. Charles Roman Catholic Parish.
Memorial donations may be sent to Cancer Care Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. https://support.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/site/Donation