John Chartrand, beloved husband of Cyndi McBride, passed away suddenly at his home in Theodore on November 25, 2014. He was sixty-four years of age. Jean (John) Baptiste Leo Chartrand was born June 12, 1950 in Camperville, MB to John and Katherine (nee MacKay) Chartrand. At the age of 15 he left home and headed to the NWT, where he got his first job slashing brush. He loved the work and the country and eventually started his own company with his brother Ernie, which flourished until Ernie's untimely passing. After that, he worked for a time with CP Rail, laying the line from Janzen to Tuffnell and did some rail work in Ontario. He finally settled in Yorkton where, as a single father, he took pride in the raising of his children John and Rina. His door was always open to other youth in need and Social Services had placed other children in his care as well. In Yorkton he worked at the Friendship Center for 18 years but moved over to the Painted Hand Casino when it opened. It was there he worked the past 16 years in the security department. He was extremely proud of his exceptional work ethic and could always be counted on to come in whenever he was needed. In 2013, after a whirlwind romance, he married for the first time on July 13, and relocated to Theodore, where he resided until his sudden passing. John was an avid hunter and fisherman in his youth and had even landed a trophy elk. He gave this up as he grew older. He admired the beauty of nature and would spend hours watching the birds. Last year he startled the neighbours by chasing a baby robin through the neighbourhood, catching it and bringing it home because he was worried that a cat would get it. Such was his love of all living things. John was a kind and generous man, to not only his family and friends, but to strangers as well.聽 He was known to pick up hitchhikers, take them to the nearest hotel, buy them a meal and even pay for a room for the night if they needed. He would even give them cash to help them on their journey. Only John knows the lives he touched with his generosity, as he was not one to brag about the good he did for others. John was a very spiritual man and was knowledgeable about the ways and beliefs of his native heritage. The dreams he had and shared brought great comfort to many who had lost loved ones. As an elder, he was sought out for advice from many of his people and was one of the few who could speak Saulteaux and Cree and could understand many other dialects as well. John had a great sense of humor and was quick with a joke. He was the person you could trust to back you up in any situation, never raised his voice in anger and treated everyone he met like they were his family. He knew so many people that even when he travelled, he would end up meeting someone he knew. He was a calm, caring, beautiful man inside and out and we are all so much better for knowing him. His ashes will be spread on the land he loved all his life and on the lake where he enjoyed his youth. John was predeceased by his parents, numerous siblings, family and friends. He leaves behind to celebrate his life his wife, Cyndi, children John Jr. (Tasha), Rina, Jason and Candace, step-sons Morgan and Dakota, sisters Rita (John) MacLeod, Beatrice Geeke, Annette (Dave) Stubbert, nieces, nephews cousins and friends. 鈥淗e's Halfway There鈥�. A wake was held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at the Yorkton Friendship Centre. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the Yorkton Friendship Centre with Ross Kaye serving as Elder and Crystal Bailey, B.Th Certified Celebrant officiating. Jason LeClerc and Max Delorme performed the musical selections 鈥楪o Rest High On That Mountain鈥�, 鈥楢mazing Grace鈥� and 鈥業 Will See you Again鈥�. The honourary bearers were his Painted Hand Casino family and all those whose lives he touched. Jason LeClerc, Ross Kaye, Morgan McBride, Sonny Houle, Dale Chutskoff and Dwayne Cote served as casket bearers. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com. Memorials in memory of Joe may be made to the Yorkton Friendship Centre towards the Hot Lunch Program or to the charity of one鈥檚 choice as gifts of remembrance.
