Raymond Arthur Rousseau, 73, of Fort Frances, Ontario, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on March 2, 2011, after a long courageous battle with cancer. Ray was born January 26, 1938 to Lucien and Laura Rousseau. He spent the last 28 years with the love of his life, Beverley Johnson. Ray was a wonderful friend, father, grandfather, and was a well-respected hard working man who not only was a successful business man, but also well known as a jack of all trades. He could build, repair or put to right anything that he was asked to do. His favourite saying was “I learned it all at my father’s knee”.
He began his long career in the automotive business back in the 1960’s working at Fort Frances Motor Products, and at various other dealerships, in Kenora, Ontario and Killarney, Manitoba. In the early 1970’s he was fortunate enough to start his own GM dealership at the old Henry Motors site and named it Causeway Pontiac Buick Ltd. At the same time, he also started a Toyota franchise. When a fire destroyed the Causeway building in 1980, he re-located the Causeway dealership to his Toyota site in the “west end” of Fort Frances. Ray also owned and operated the Patricia Chev-Olds dealership in Dryden for a number of years and sold it in the late 70’s. In 1990 he sold Causeway Pontiac Buick, and took up real estate which he enjoyed until he “retired” in 2006. Over the years, Ray was instrumental in financially helping numerous small businesses to get started and become successful. In 1985, Ray and Bev purchased a cabin on Rocky Islet Bay near Windy Point on Rainy Lake. They spent the next 25 glorious years turning it into the home of their dreams. It was a labour of love for both of them, and they enjoyed many years entertaining family and friends “up the lake”.
Ray is survived by his love Bev, his family Dean, Fort Frances , Donna (Steve) Fischer, Temecula, California, Michael Johnson, Fort Frances, Bradley (Ria )Johnson, Starbuck, Manitoba, Erin (Ryan) Deschamps, Fort Frances. Grandchildren Jennifer (Jason) Rousseau-Krikke and Jarrett (Sharyn) Rousseau, both of Fort Frances, Nicole (Brandt) Genz, O’Fallon, Missouri, Colby, Kylan, Kierra and Kenzie Fischer, Temecula, California, Julia, Taylor, Camryn and Will Johnson, Starbuck, Manitoba, and Matthew and Morgan Deschamps, Fort Frances. Great- grandchildren, Dominic Rousseau-Krikke, and Hazel Rose Rousseau. He is also survived by his sister Bernice (Dean) Batchelder, San Rafael, California, brother Ted (Gloria) Rousseau, Edmonton, Alberta, and brother Barney (Alice) Rousseau, Vancouver, BC, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Ray was predeceased by his parents, and brothers, Ernest and Paul Rousseau, sister, Julie Holman, and infant son, Arthur.
As per Ray’s wishes, there will be no funeral; a celebration of Ray’s life will be held at the lake at a later date, with family and close friends. Those who wish may make memorial donations in Ray’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice, c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, ON., P9A 3M8. Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.
We knew that morning that God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone;
For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide;
And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same;
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
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