RAYMOND ARTHUR ROUSSEAU

Raymond Arthur Rousseau, 73, of Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side, on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Ray was born Jan. 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, and grandfather, and was a well-respected, hard-working man who not only was a successful businessman, 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 1960s working at Fort Frances Motor Products, and at various other dealerships in Kenora, Ont. and Killarney, Man.
In the early 1970s, 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, Ont. for a number of years and sold it in the late ’70s.
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 of Fort Frances, Ont., Donna (Steve) Fischer of Temecula, Calif., Michael Johnson of Fort Frances, Ont., Bradley (Ria) Johnson of Starbuck, Man., and Erin (Ryan) Deschamps of Fort Frances, Ont.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Jennifer (Jason) Rousseau-Krikke and Jarrett (Sharyn) Rousseau, both of Fort Frances, Ont., Nicole (Brandt) Genz O’Fallon of Missouri, Colby, Kylan, Kierra, and Kenzie Fischer of Temecula, Calif., Julia, Taylor, Camryn, and Will Johnson of Starbuck, Man., and Matthew and Morgan Deschamps of Fort Frances, Ont.; and great- grandchildren, Dominic Rousseau-Krikke and Hazel Rose Rousseau.
He also is survived by his sister, Bernice (Dean) Batchelder of San Rafael, Calif.; brothers, Ted (Gloria) Rousseau of Edmonton, Alta. and Barney (Alice) Rousseau of Vancouver, B.C.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Ray was predeceased by his parents; 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 in memoriam 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, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be made offered at 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.