Rene’s Obituary
It’s with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Rene Albert Desaulniers, a longtime resident of Falher, Alberta, born March 5th, 1948, in Mclennan, Alberta who passed peacefully at the age of 73 on August 4th, 2021.
Rene was raised on a farm near Falher where he created memories with family, great neighbors, and good friends. In 1967, he bought a train ticket to attend hockey school in Toronto to further his hockey knowledge. Returning to Falher after hockey school, he completed his high school diploma, worked as a caretaker of the Falher Arena, and played hockey. In the fall of 1970, he attended Mount Royal College in Calgary joining the Recreation and Physical Education Director Program. He was following a path that embraced his love for sports and his organizational and leadership skills.
In the spring of 70 and 71, he travelled to California to work in the bees. Summer of ’71, would change the rest of his life, the moment he met the love of his life, Ronda Lininger. Four months later, on October 12, 1971, they were married in Reno, Nevada. They packed their Volkswagen Bug and returned to Falher in 1972 to begin their new life together. That same year, he made a farm girl out of his city wife and became a farmer by buying the family farm. He was blessed with four beautiful daughters, 4 son-in laws, and 8 lovely granddaughters and 1 handsome grandson. Following in his dad’s footsteps, Rene farmed with pride for over 40 years. In the off season of farming, he held many titles, beekeeper, maintenance man, carpenter, caretaker, while building life-long relationships along the way.
Rene has expressed that the most influential thing in his life was hockey. Since a young age, he lived and breathed hockey from building his own ice rinks, playing shiny to joining the Falher Pirates (1972-1981), and creating the Falher Versatiles (1981-2000). He was never without hockey, if he couldn’t be on the ice, he was sitting in the stands, cheering on the next generations.
In 1981, Rene purchased Armand Bellerive’s section of land where he created Shadow Ranch, a place for family and friends to gather. His time as a 5- star shareholder inspired him to build his own golf course in 1994. Rene mastered his left-handed golf course and was always happy to play. He had a gift in seeing new life in old, abandoned buildings, turning them into creative purposeful pieces at Shadow Ranch. Rene left a footprint on our hearts; one man with drive, passion and an eye for detail fulfilled his dream and left us a legacy.
Predeceased by his father, Jean-Paul Desaulniers and mother, Geraldine Desaulniers (Gagnon).
He leaves to mourn his wife of 50 years, Ronda Desaulniers (Lininger), his daughters and son-in laws, Anne & Duane Lanctot; Jenny & Kevin St.Jean; Tracy & Allan Gagne; Lori & Chris Bedard; and his grandchildren Janelle Lanctot; Rylee, Sienna & Kendra St.Jean; Skylar, Dezlyn & Gaven Gagne; Jaydyn & Jordyn Bedard, and his brother, Guy Desaulniers and sisters Yvonne (Ron) Cruickshank, Paulette (Alphonse) Briand, Louise Desaulniers & Michelle (Mike) Charest; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Shadow Ranch on Saturday, August 21st, 2021, at 2:00pm. Please call Anne Lanctot (780) 837-0701 or Tracy Gagne (780) 837-2727 for directions.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Rene Albert Desaulniers March 05 1948 August 04 2021..
Chapel of Memories Funeral Homes & Crematorium
Death notice for the town of: Peace River, Province: Alberta