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OBIT ~ Germain Sasseville, 1951-2009
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Germain Sasseville, of Falher, passed away peacefully at the McLennan Hospital surrounded by loving family on Dec. 1.
Germain was born in McLennan on May 9, 1951 as the first child of Lucien Sasseville and Therese Bouchard. His birth was followed by two brothers, Camille and Real, and four sisters in Lise, Celine, Anne and Michelle. As a very close knit family, the Sassevilles’ were always very proud of Germain’s accomplishments.
Germain was raised on the farm near Jean Cote, until he was 15 years old, at which time his father bought the general store and moved the family into town.
Germain went to school in Jean Cote from grades one through eight, and then travelled on the school bus to Girouxville for grade nine. He later went to Donnelly for his remaining high school years.
While in school, Germain was quite the class joker, always making the other kids and teachers laugh. Somehow that seemed to stay with him in the years to follow. He was also quite a math whiz. There was no math problem presented to him that he could not solve.
After graduation, Germain continued his education, travelling to Hartford, Connecticut to take a course as an air traffic controller. From there he went to Montreal to take his practicum, only to find out that the air traffic controllers were going on strike, and so he decided to make his way back to Alberta and took up brick laying and truck driving. He also took part in digging the hole for the Edmonton coliseum, and was always very proud to say so.
Living in Edmonton Germain met a young lady by the name of Annette Missal. After 10 short months of courting they decided that it was time to get married, and so on Nov. 3, 1973 they tied the knot in Edmonton. Shortly thereafter, the newlyweds moved back to Jean Cote. Together he and Annette had three sons, Christopher (1975), Brian (1977) and Dale (1981).
Germain started working for his father in the general store. He worked in the store until 1978, in which time he got a job in Fairview with UGG as an elevator agent helper. He was a trainee for a mere 10 months when he was given his own post in Donnelly as elevator manager. This is where his career in agriculture began. He found his calling. Germain was transferred many times, from Donnelly to Grimshaw, then to Eaglesham for nine years. During this time the town appointed him mayor. As only Germain could say it, “they couldn’t find any one stupid enough to take the job, so they stuck me with it.” From there they went to Crossfield, then Nampa where he also did some custom spraying with his son Chris who worked for Germain. After two years he moved to Falher, where after 20 years, he was given a severance package. Annette always asked why he never went back to air traffic controlling, to which he replied, “they didn’t want me when I needed them, so I guess I was destined to direct grain trucks in the elevators instead of airplanes on the tar mat.”
Being the man who Germain was, he could not just sit still, and so he moved to hail and crop insurance and worked for AFSC for 12 years. Just imagine with all this moving around and being the social person Germain was, the friends he made along the way.
Germain was always involved in community affairs, whether it on town council, sports committees, president of the curling club, etc. He loved being involved and making a difference.
Germain was a very competitive person, but most of all he liked having fun and always said “win or lose, I’m here playing, and it beats working.”
Germain was very involved in curling with his boys and was very proud of the Sasseville team as they joined many bonspiels together. Germain refereed hockey for 10 years for the love of the game.
Knowing the kids were having fun is what made him stay with it for so long.
It was certainly not for the money, as anyone who has refereed knows.
Golfing was one of Germain’s favourite pastimes.
One of Germain’s passions was sitting around a campfire, listening to the guitar and joining in the sing-alongs. Germain had a great singing voice, and only got better as the night progressed.
Germain’s love for his family, his wife of 36 years and his three sons, was unconditional. He was a good provider and good father and always made sure they had what they needed.
He was predeceased by his mother, Therese Bouchard in 1977, brother Camille Sasseville in 2003, and sister Lise Lecerf in 2006. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 36 years, Annette (Falher), sons: Christopher (Lindsay) Regina, Sask., Brian (Danielle) Medicine Hat, Dale of Edmonton, father Lucien (Gilbertte) of Morinville, sister Celine Doyle (Edgar) of Coleman, Real (Becky) of Jean Cote, Anne Benard (Louis) of Sooke, B.C., Michelle Duval of Jean Cote, and his brother-in-law Aubrey Missal. Germain is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and family members.
Funeral services for the late Germain Sasseville were held on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at Ste. Anne Parish in Falher. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Chapel of Memories in Peace River.
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