<p>Celestin (Les) Champagne went home to be with his Lord and Saviour on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at the age of 99.</p> <p>Left to cherish his memory are five sons: Alfred (Shirley), Ernie (Virna); Richard (Yvonne), Craig (Patricia), Randy (Lee Anna), two daughters: Anne (Stan) Morrissette, Kathleen Champagne, their families, as well as his stepchildren: Mary (Ben) Unrau, Helen (Jim) Wiebe, Susan (Ivan) Johnson, John (Carol) Hiebert,&nbsp; Anne (Mike) Neufeld, Martha Gerbrandt, Jake (Ang) Hiebert, Willie (Anne) Hiebert, and their families. He is also survived by one brother Andy Champagne and two sisters: Grace Martel and Anna Nault.</p> <p>He was predeceased by his first wife Margaret (2008) and second wife Katherine (February 2019), son William (Billy), grandson Christopher and two great grandchildren. He was also predeceased by his brother Gus (Frenchy) and his wife Betty Champagne, four sisters: Leontine and husband Leon Martel, Adelaide and husband Fidel Bison, Rita and husband Lawrence Ulasy, Doris and husband Rene Van de Keere also sister-in-law Kay Champagne, and two brothers-in-law Joe Martel and Andy Nault.</p> <p>Dad was born on February 14, 1920 in Richer, MB, the oldest of nine children. After graduating from highschool, he taught school in Middlebro, MB. and Brokenhead, MB. for a few years as well.&nbsp; While in Middlebro, he met Margaret. They were married on February 17, 1944.&nbsp; They lived most of their married life in Giroux, where they raised their family of five boys plus three adopted children.</p> <p>Although his right arm was crippled from birth, he could do almost anything including nailing with one hand. Dad did whatever was necessary to provide for his family.&nbsp; He delivered mail, cut wood, planted trees, helped farmers and worked on construction. For a number of years, he sold Filter Queen vacuum cleaners and was very successful at it, winning several awards. He also inherited and ran the family grocery store in Giroux for several years but was unable to make a go of it.</p> <p>They went through many hardships including two house fires, losing almost everything they owned, as well as a series of corrective surgeries on dad's crippled arm.</p> <p>Dad was always very active in the community from coaching the local ball team to working on the Giroux Hall committee to calling bingo.&nbsp; He was an active member of Dawson Trail Opportunities Unlimited, the Knights of Columbus and was also a founding member of Christ Our Saviour Catholic Church.</p> <p>He was well known as an auctioneer in his later years. For forty plus years he made a career of filing income tax for people which he did until our mom, Margaret, passed away. At the age of 88, he decided it was time to retire.</p> <p>In 2009 Dad met Katherine (Tina) Hiebert and they were married that same year.&nbsp; For a number of years, while still in relatively good health, they enjoyed many Gospel Music festivals during the summer months. They even bought a camper trailer so they could stay and take in the whole weekend at each festival. Unfortunately, that came to an end after dad had a stroke at the age of 94.</p> <p>We wish to thank Dr Porath and the staff at Resthaven Nursing home for their great care of our dad for these last four and a half years.</p> <p>A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., at Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Parish, Ste. Anne, MB.</p> <p>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.</p>