December 1927 to March 2012
Our precious husband, father and grandfather began his journey onward from this human experience, peacefully with all his loved ones around him. He was born at Nelson, B.C., to Ugene and Georgina Roberge, with a French, Irish and Iroquois background. He was the youngest of 10 siblings, born on his eldest sisters’ birthday. He lived and worked all over Canada in the very best years – from the army in his younger years to mining and railroads to ranching and rodeo cowboy, just to name a few. From the Rockies to the prairies, and everywhere in between. As a youngster his first love was hockey. He trained at 16 in the NHL with many of the late greats. He played many instruments to accompany and a dynamite singing voice. He loved camping and his biking, hiking and swimming. He was united in marriage to Elsie Popoff in 1958 and was blessed with three children. They eventually made Grand Forks home to raise their family.
He was predeceased by his entire original birth family, as well as his son, Kevin in 1998. He is survived by his wife, Elsie; daughter, Eve; son, Tom and his wife, Diane; and grandchildren: Nolan, Josef, Darryl, Mandy and Cody; many, many nieces and nephews and treasured friends of Grand Forks.
He was all about the sunrise and firelight as each day he rose and retired with them. He was the Iroquois; his father’s name for him was “Barefoot”. Tiny but tough with a heart of gold n’ sunshine – this was our father.
“Oh sweet mother, embrace and comfort him as he arrives
For of this earth he was a gem so rare!”
We as a family have been so blessed to be a part of this man. My father requested that we skip a memorial, and celebrate his life later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society may be made. Cremation has taken place. Grand Forks Funeral Home had care of arrangements.