Our beloved and cherished Dad, Grand Dad, brother, Uncle and friend passed away Friday May 4 with his loving wife and family by his side in Kelowna, BC at the age of 92 years.
Augie was born July 25, 1919 on the open prairie near Rockyford, Alberta as the 7th of ten children of Peter and Dymphia Geeraert.
Augie served overseas in the Royal Canadian Regiment from 1940 to 1944. He married the love of his life Lenora Harriet Gimbel on August 12, 1947 in Calgary Alberta. Together they started in the hotel and catering business which over time accumulated thousands of friend’s across Alberta and BC. Augie owned hotels in Rockyford and Delia, Alberta, Terrace, Hazelton, Stewart and Penticton BC.
He was a man of many hats, from farm hand to butcher, to hotel owner, but his greatest passion of all was working with people and playing cards. Everyone knew when visiting Lenora and Augie, be prepared to play either a Bridge game or a Crib game. Augie was always devoted to the communities where he lived, especially with hockey in Terrace, where over his 25 years there he was on the building committees for the Arena, The Terrace and District Music Festival, the first Veritas School as well as the moving of and relocating the Veritas School and the Roman Catholic Church where it is situated today. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus in Terrace, the Charter Grand Knight at St. John Vianney Church and a charter member of the Elks Club. He served on the executive of the Legion, Lions Club, Terrace Curling Association and the Formation Northwest Loggers Sports.
Augie had a heart of gold, any Hotel Guests stranded over Christmas were always brought home for Christmas dinner, whenever someone was down on their luck he never refused them lodging or a meal or a loan to get them back on their feet, he also supported many orphanages in Peru and India.
He is survived by his wife, Lenora, children, Graham (Charlotte), Carol (Keith), Ora Lynne, Shireen (Roy) and Cindy (Trevor); grandchildren, Norman, Katherine, Aaron, Megan, Jason, Helen, Graham, Ian, Jesse, August, Karter, Lenora, Theron, Colin, Ryan, Skye-Anne, Cynthia; step grandchildren, Laurie, Tracey, Stacey, Travis, Colton, Amanda and Anthony; great-grandchildren, Damien, Adrieanna, Isabella and Nicholas; sisters, Aliza, Alinia (Betty) and Agnes; brother, Peter. Numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his children, Ross, Claire and Van John; siblings, Albert, Joanna (Annie) Carl, Alice, Henry, Aloysius (Louie).
A special thank you to Dr. Grant Chamberlain for his dedicated care and Tracy Foster and her care aids through IHA. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Ritas Church in Rockyford, Alberta on Saturday May 19th at 2:00pm. Celebration of life following Mass at Rockford Community Center.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke or Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.everdenrust.com