Obituary of Lawrie Joseph Claude Thibert

After a short illness, on August 5th, Lawrie Thibert, age 77, left on his last portage.

He leaves behind his loving wife of almost 60 years Yvette (née Cheramy), his three children Anne-Marie (Darren), Lawrence (Angela) and Suzanne Bérard (Marcel), grandsons Stéphane (Holly), Justin, Julien (Brenna) and Riel (Pascale), and three great-grandchildren Greyson and twins Daxton and Kingsley. He is also survived by his sister Agnes Kelln (Reg), and sisters-in-law Marion, Patricia and Mary-Lynne as well as many nieces and nephews and the Cheramy family in Alberta. He is pre-deceased by 10 siblings and his parents Aimée and Marceline (née Plouffe).

Lawrie was born in St. Boniface where he met the love of his life Yvette at a school dance. Having three children at a young age he began a varied career starting with CIL/Crown Zellerbach/Seaforth Plastics. With the company relocating he changed tracks and became a coordinator at Festival du Voyageur, a canoe guide for Voyageur Wilderness, Client Services Manager at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge and finally a successful sales consultant at various Winnipeg Chrysler dealerships.

Lawrie was extremely active in the community, celebrating his Francophone and Métis heritage through volunteer work and memberships with the Festival, les Chevaliers de Colomb and La Brigade de La Rivière Rouge, where he was known as the ‘bon vivant’ Maxime Desjardins. He was also a member of the Heather Game and Fish where the family enjoyed many wonderful summers on the Winnipeg River near Lac du Bonnet.

Lawrie / Max was known to be the ‘coolest’ dad, the life of the party, an avid sports fan, the man who knew everyone (and everything!), the storyteller and a generous soul. He was also fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren.

The change to living his last number of years in a wheelchair may have slowed him down but he handled this with humour and a gratefulness for more years with those he loved.

He joins so many dear friends on the great fishing trip in the sky, sipping a scotch and maybe playing a round of crib.

The family wishes to thank the ER and 6E staff of the St. Boniface Hospital, and special friend Francine Bisson for all her support and guidance.

A celebration of Lawrie’s life will take place at 11:00 am on Sunday September 10th in the Great Hall at the Dakota Community Centre, 1188 Dakota St. in Winnipeg.