It is with deep sorrow and much love that we announce that Charles “Chuck” Eugene Lalonde passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 77 on December 1, 2021 in Victoria, British Columbia.
Chuck was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on November 9, 1944. Much of his childhood was spent in the small northern Saskatchewan communities of Ranger, Leoville and his beloved Chitek Lake.
After completing his education to become a mason at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Institute, he met his soon-to-be wife Sandra “Sandi” in Melville Saskatchewan. Chuck and Sandi married in 1965 and relocated first to Saskatoon where they welcomed their 2 sons Clinton and Glendon. Chuck started to work with CN Rail and soon moved the family back to Melville, then on to Regina where they welcomed their third child Chardelle.
In 1974 the young family relocated to Lac La Biche, Alberta where Chuck became a masonry instructor at the Alberta Vocational College (now Portage College) retiring in 2005. Chuck and Sandi spent their retirement years dividing their time between their home in Melville Saskatchewan, their cabin at Chitek Lake and on the road crisscrossing Western Canada visiting many family and friends.
After Sandi’s death in 2011, Chuck moved to Chitek Lake. In 2013 he met his special companion Louise Ouimet and divided his time between Chitek Lake and Louise’s home in Thunder Bay, Ontario until relocating permanently to be closer to his children and grandchildren in Victoria7 in 2019 where he lived until his passing.
Of course, these are just the facts and the facts don’t tell the full story of who Chuck was.
Chuck was well known as an extraordinary bricklayer who cemented his legacy by not only building but teaching hundreds of others how to create structures, fireplaces, fences, storefronts and bar-b-ques. Chuck loved fishing. There wasn’t a pike, pickerel or perch that could avoid his trusty Len Thompson “Five of Diamonds” whether he was catching them in 5-foot waves on the open water or through 5 feet of ice in the winter.
Chuck was also well known for his love of hockey, from playing with his beloved Maroons to watching the Oilers to coaching and driving his son’s minor hockey teams to their games. Crib, kaiser, lawn darts, Schmear, dice games – Chuck was a master of them all but often enjoyed the banter more than the competition itself. Spending time in the kitchen making his famous Nuts and Bolts, BBQ’ing a signature “Chuckie” burger or frying up fresh fish with his secret batter were just a few of Chuck’s well-known and well-loved dishes. He was extremely inclusive and often brought immediate and extended family together at his beloved cabin in Chitek Lake. His thoughtfulness, patience, humour and gentle soul will be deeply missed by all that knew him.
Chuck was predeceased by his wife Sandra; father Joseph and mother Esther (nee Slough) Lalonde; sister Esther ‘Sis’ and brother-in-law William ‘Bill’ Serhan. He leaves to mourn his passing 3 children, Clinton (Dana), Glendon and Chardelle (Ian) of Victoria BC; 3 grandchildren Cassandra, Maggie and Graeme; 2 great-grandchildren, Chani and Jude; sister, Joanne Fontaine; brother Donald Lalonde; special companion Louise Ouimet and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended family members.
COVID permitting, a memorial service is being planned for the summer of 2022 at the place Chuck has always regarded as his home, Chitek Lake, Saskatchewan.
Memorial donations in Chuck’s name can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada www.alzheimer.ca or to the Kiwanis Pavilion Oak Bay www.kiwanispavilion.ca
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Charles Chuck Eugene Lalonde November 9 1944 – December 1 2021..
mccall gardens funeral and cremation service
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique