Obituary of Calvin Rempel
Calvin Bernard Rempel passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the age of 83 years. Cal was born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan on February 17, 1941. He was the first born to Bernard and Susan Rempel. When Cal was ten years old the family of eight relocated to a homestead in the Peace River Valley area of northern B.C. Five more children were born into the family while in B.C. As the eldest son, Cal developed a work ethic that would be a part of him throughout his life. He excelled academically through home schooling and correspondence and eventually formal high school. He was recognized for his ability and encouraged by teachers to pursue a career in engineering and worked for survey crews building roads in the mountains. His earliest memories always revolved around working. As a young man he worked on various farms as a labourer as well as other jobs until he began a career path with Federated Co-op that took him from fuel truck driver to management positions in several locations across B.C, Alberta and finally Manitoba. Cal joined the Canadian Army in 1960, during, what became known as the Cuba Crisis when the US was under a threat of War. He was trained for policing which eventually became his career focus.
Cal married young and had three daughters that he was on his own with until a second marriage produced a son and another daughter.
His life revolved around supporting his family and running marathons and exercise. In the early 1980’s Cal went to work in Flin Flon, MB in a shared role of police/paramedic/firefighter as he was trained in all three. Having to care for all but two of his children, Cal took a job with the MB Government, Department of Finance. His first posting took him to Virden, MB as a uniformed Compliance Officer role.
In 1985 he met Lynne and the attraction was instant for both of them. As Lynne was long married to someone else with two grown children, she walked away from Cal! Later that year their paths crossed again with Lynne trying to walk away again…but as fate kept intervening, by the spring of 1986 their feelings were unmistakable so Lynne soon separated and they got together. Cal then moved into a Special Investigator position based in Brandon and they began the challenging process of blending their family comprising seven kids including four adult children and two grandkids. Cal & Lynne married on July 10, 1987.
It’s a love story filled with bumpy roads but their love was strong and forever.
They retired from their demanding careers starting with Cal who then became
a Private Investigator as well as had a Security Business with a single contract, the
Brandon Gallery Mall. Lynne Retired from CFS in 2001 and Cal retired once again and they moved to Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. as Lynne’s two sons lived there at the time. Cal’s work ethic did not shut down until his death when he still held a valid BC PI / Security license. His last job was as a contract
Security Officer at the Langdale, BC Ferries Terminal, he was 83. Health concerns were many and became more complicated when his heart was involved…. But he had a powerful will to live and Lynne thought he would live forever if she loved more and cared for him better. The plan to move back to Manitoba was a combination of grief and economic security. Cal was determined to bring Lynne home to Manitoba to be closer to relatives and life-long friends. They bought the house in Virden that Cal had owned when they met which was pure fate and coincidence, and after 24 years of condo living in B.C., they wanted a house again. Cal wanted to get a puppy named Phoebe for Lynne who along with their cat, Scout brought so much pleasure into their lives.
Four of our combined family children predeceased him; Dena Rempel (2007), Dayle Thexton (2006), Mark Gould (2013) Jody Bromley (2024). Cal was also predeceased by his parents and his siblings; Carol Woodford, Tim Rempel, Peggy Demeule, Hope Clarke; Lynne’s siblings Pat Dunmall, Maxine Stringer; daughter-in-law Michele Southam; brothers-in-law Larry Gould and Lawson Clarke and sister-in-law Karen Rempel. All the losses took their toll on Calvin.
Calvin will be lovingly remember by his wife Lynne; children Calvina Van Houke, Dean Gould (Lisa) and Ryan Rempel; grandchildren Nikki Buckley and her son, Dan Manser and his children Aubrey and Daxton, James Slezak (Nick), Whitney Slezak, Colby Guild (Candice), Kelsey Bromley (Jesse), Courtnee Bromely, Cole Southam (Nicole), Chelsey Paul and her son Tucker, Chloe Plasier and her children and Rory Thexton; devoted partner to Jody, Kevin Walowetz and his daughter Neesa; siblings Mark Rempel (Kim), Philip Rempel, Colleen Gould, Faith Doray, Terry Rempel (Christine), Rea Chartier (Art), Paul Rempel and Paulette Myers; son-in-law Bill Thexton and Lorna Gould; beloved pets Scout and Pheobe, as well as extended family too numerous to mention.
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Cal may be made to a charity of choice.
In accordance with Cal’s wish, there will not be a service at this time.
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