Druwe, Charles Joseph

DRUWE: It is with loving thoughts and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Charles Druwe at Dinsdale Personal Care Home in Brandon, MB on May 12, 2014. Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa was the youngest of three children born to Marie Vassart and Victor Druwe on January 24, 1927 in the Findlay area. Sadly, at age six, Dad lost his father and was sent to live with extended family to attend school at Maple Hill. He completed grade six and was called home to help on the family farm where his mother passed when Dad was seventeen. Through many farming hardships, Dad did manage to get to Grande Clairiere for the odd dance or ball game where he met the love of his life, Marie Bertholet. They married in October of 1945 and Dad was so happy and proud to have become part of the Bertholet family. Together, Mom and Dad worked on the family farm and raised their four children. They were a team, spending countless hours in the hay field, milking cows and many other chores.  They loved to entertain, and their home was known for the post-curling and post-ball game watering hole where the drink of choice was their home-made choke cherry wine.  After many years of commitment to the morning and night milkings of dairy farming, Mom and Dad retired to Hartney and then to Brandon. There, Dad worked for a brief time at the Brandon Auction Mart, and in their spare time, he and Mom loved refinishing furniture and picked pail upon pail of saskatoons and strawberries.  Their team work continued as they entered the craft-sale scene and soon became known in all of southwestern Manitoba for their Christmas cakes, baked goods, wooden crafts and knitted items.  While living at Victoria Landing, Mom and Dad enjoyed the company of their little dog Belle. Mom and Dad  loved gatherings with family; playing cards and reminiscing, but their greatest joy was visits from their kids, grand and great- grand kids.  Dad, Gramps, always saw the best in everyone, and we remember him as being strong in faith, thoughtful, caring and  kind, and we thank him for all our lessons, memories and for loving us so unconditionally. Dad had a way of making us feel safe, comfortable and loved by placing our hands in the palm of his. He will be forever in our hearts and on our minds.  Charles Joseph Druwe was predeceased by his daughter Sharon Fry of Calgary in January, 2013 and his loving wife of 67 years Marie Druwe in April of 2013.  He is survived by daughter Claudette McPherson (Ian) of Panoka, AB, son Cyril Druwe (Kathy) of Hartney, MB, daughter Connie Morrison (Darwin) of Brandon, MB, six grandsons, three granddaughters, three great-grandsons, six great granddaughters. He is also survived by sisters-inlaw Rita Denbow, Anne-Marie Bauche, Edith Bertholet Marie Bertholet and Celina Bertholet, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family. Prayers were held at Kowalchuk’s Funeral Home in Souris, MB on Friday, May 16, 2014.  Funeral mass and interment were at St.Jean’s Catholic Church in Grande Clairiere, MB on Saturday May 17, 2014.  Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Dexter from Kowalchuk’s Funeral Home, the St.Jean’s parish choir, Father Eric, Harvey  and the Grande Clairiere CWL.  Thanks also to the many friends and relatives for your sincerity through donations, meals and baking, cards and flowers, phone calls, visits and hugs and many other acts of kindness.

And remember……death ends a life, not a relationship.