Lionel Jeremie Dufault was born on December 23, 1925 to Jeremie and Marie on the SW 32 39 16 W2, what known as the Dufault homestead by Lake Charron.

He attended school at Brightside from 1930 to 1940 and then worked on the   family farm. He enlisted in the Army in March 1945 and trained in Maple Creek and Calgary. He spent 6 months overseas until November 1945 and return home to the Regina military base. In April 1946 he was discharged from the Canadian Arm Forces.

In 1946, he went back to school in Gravelbourg. In 1948, he went to work on a farm at Aylsham and then returned home in 1949 and bought land. After a poor crop in 1950, Lionel went to work in Winnipeg as a carpenter and then returned to Saskatchewan feeling like a rich man, as he had a new truck and money in his pocket.

Again in 1951, the crops were poor, so Lionel returned to Winnipeg to work as a carpenter helping to build the Winnipeg airport. He met the love of his life while working there, Kathleen Borsboom. They were married on August 9,1952 and moved home to live on the land that he had purchased.  From 1953 to 1971 they were blessed with 9 children, one of which died in infancy in 1971.

During this time and aside from farming, Lionel had many jobs. He worked on a road gang in Manitoba, at the smelter mine in Flin Flon, drove a CAT for the RM of Spalding. He also worked at the Stumborg farm clearing brush and breaking land and operated a CAT in a Bush camp in BC. He started driving the school bus in 1961 and drove for more than 20 years.

In 1989, Lionel and Kathy moved off the family farm to Naicam. Lionel enjoyed tinkering in his garage, working on small motors, starters and alternators.  In   January of 1990, after a courageous battle with cancer, Lionel lost his wife, our mother and grandmother, Kathy.

Lionel continued to live in their home in Naicam and then eventually moved to the Churchview Lodge. He was the last WWII veteran of the Legion in Naicam.

Lionel passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Thursday May 11, 2023 at  Melfort Union Hospital with family at his side.

Lionel leaves behind eight of his children and their families;

Dennis, Angela, Chris (Denise), Jeremy (Jamie);

William, Debbie, Nicole (Keith),Jenelle (Dean),Monique;

Delores (Lyle), Estelle (Cory), Keith, Barbara Anne (Mark);

Barb (Gail) Dinah(Kim), Leah, Troy(Melody), Kathy(Kohl);

Greg (Brenda) Steven (Joanne), Trevor (Rachel), Jodie (Tyler), Ashley (Kensey);

Ed (Shelley) Andrea (Dustin), Kyle (Stacy), Brittany;

Michael (Lori), Preston(Shania), Austin(Alisha), Dallas;

Raymond, Josh (Adele), Scott (Katie), Carolyn (Jeff), Nick (Stacey), Heather, Deanna, and 40 great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Kathy, son Gilbert and grandson Sheldon, along with parents and numerous brothers, sisters and relatives.

“When I Stand Before God At The End Of My Life, I Would Hope That I Would  Not Have a Single Bit of Talent Left And Could Say, I Used          Everything You Gave Me”      (Emma Bombeck)

Rest in Peace

A Prayer Service was held Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 7:00 PM and the Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM.  Both services were held from St. George Roman Catholic Church, Naicam, SK with Father Charles Nweze presiding.

The interment followed in St. George’s Catholic Cemetery, Naicam.

Friends so wishing may make memorial contributions to Royal Canadian Legion Branch #218, Naicam, PO Box 578, Naicam, SK S0K 2Z0.

To leave condolences for the Family, please visit the online guestbook at www.fedusiakfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Melfort, SK  (306) 752-3838

 

• Date : 2023-05-11
• Location : Naicam, SK