Marcel Emile Lefebvre

January 18, 1932 – December 9, 2017

The death of Marcel Emile Lefebvre of Englefeld, SK, occurred at his home on Saturday, December 9, 2017, with his wife and children at his side.  He was 85 years of age.  Marcel, the first in a family of eight children, was born to Gustave “Gus” and Marie (nee Moisan) Lefebvre on January 18, 1932, in the farmhouse of his Grandma and Grandpa Moisan near St. Front, SK.  The new family spent their first years at Prud’homme, SK, but when Marcel was four or five years old, they returned to St. Front to the Lefebvre family farm.  He started school at St. Raymond Country School, located halfway between their farm and St. Front.  School was all in French, and a year or so later when the young family relocated to Englefeld, Marcel spoke only French.  His Grade 2 teacher taught him English and in the 100% German community, he was called a “pea souper” by the other kids.  After the completion of Grade 8, Marcel joined the workforce.  He had already been helping his dad for several years delivering 45 gallon drums of fuel to local farmers.  He worked with his dad in the family garage business, where he drove the fuel truck and trained as a mechanic.  Marcel took his formal schooling in Motor Vehicle Mechanical Repair by correspondence, but had to travel to Edmonton, AB, to complete his studies.  He received his Saskatchewan Provincial Journeyman status in 1953, as ticket #365.  Marcel married a local girl, Shirley Koenig, on August 5, 1957.  They lived in Englefeld and raised their family of two sons and two daughters.  During their 36 years of marriage, Marcel and Shirl enjoyed several trips, to Yellowknife, California, Jamaica, Venezuela and Mexico.  Marcel continued working with his dad in their business in Englefeld, which was known as G.G. Lefebvre & Son.  In 1966, they took on a New Holland Farm Equipment dealership and eventually, also added Versatile and numerous small lines of equipment.  As well, they stocked a large parts department.  They built a new shop on the west side of Englefeld, and when Marcel’s brothers Dan, and Gabe, became partners in the business, their dad retired.  Marcel’s son, Pat, also worked at the family business for many years.  The business became known as Lefebvre Brothers Implements Ltd. and operated until the brothers retired in 1997.  As hobbies, Marcel restored several old cars, and collected vintage Saskatchewan license plates.  Marcel was left a widower upon Shirl’s death on October 6, 1993.  He married a lifelong friend, Mary (nee Seier) Schmitz on December 27, 1997, and they would have celebrated their 20th anniversary on December 27, 2017.  Marcel and Mary were blessed with the good fortune to spend over 20 winters in Yuma, Arizona.  All his life, Marcel worked long hours, weekends and evenings included, but was also a big contributor to his community: he had been an Englefeld Village Councillor for six years, filled in as the grader operator to maintain the streets in Englefeld, was a Quill Plains Centennial Lodge Board Member for 18 years, a St. Mary’s Villa Board Member for a short time, an Englefeld Rec Board Member for several years, and was on the Englefeld Credit Union Board for 18 years.  In addition, Marcel was a charter member, and later a lifetime member of the Englefeld Knights of Columbus Council, sat on the Englefeld School Board, and sang in the Holy Guardian Angels Church Choir.   Marcel had a passion for music and dancing; he earned many badges in square dancing, and danced countless hours of foxtrots and polkas.  In Arizona, he was well known by all the ladies in their park for his dancing prowess.  In his retirement, Marcel also filled in as a spare school bus driver.  Kids will remember him for his singing and whistling.  From childhood on, he was an avid and voracious reader.  After Marcel and Mary were married, they made their home on Mary’s acreage on the north end of Main Street in Englefeld.  There, he became the yard care expert and kept busy cutting grass, trimming trees, cutting firewood, and gardening.  Marcel loved puttering in the shop, where he continued fixing and tinkering all through his retirement.   “Dad truly loved life; he was a man of integrity, a man of service, and a man who always put others before himself.   He lived one day at a time, was an honest and trustworthy man, and made us all very proud to call him ‘our dad’.   We appreciate you, Dad, and will always have you with us.”  Marcel will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife of nearly 20 years, Mary (nee Seier) Schmitz-Lefebvre of Englefeld; two sons, two daughters, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren:  Brad (Wanda) Lefebvre of Humboldt, SK, and family, Nathan (Stephanie), and Landon (Hannah); Ivy (Les) McGrath of LeRoy, SK, and family, Jan, Mallory, Jonah and Mason; Pat (Val) Lefebvre of Fort Nelson, BC, and family, Jonathen (Kerry), and Denée (Dennis) Sommerville and their children Myla and Luka; and Gail (Greg) Wittig of Saskatoon and family, Dylan (Sydnee), Aidan, and Griffin; two sisters and four brothers:  Jeannine Koenig, and Lee (Marlene) Lefebvre, all of Humboldt; Pauline Reinelt of Saskatoon, Gabe (Les) Lefebvre, Dan Lefebvre, and Manny (Cindy) Lefebvre, all of Englefeld; one aunt, Imelda Moisan of Humboldt; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and by Mary’s family:  Ron (Enola) Schmitz of Calgary, AB, and family, Ryan (Abby) and sons Peter and David, Carmen (Mike) Curtis and family, Alex, Charlie and Matthew, Jaclyn (Andy) Chan and son Grayson, and Lara Schmitz; and Carol (Bob) Ragush of Brandon, MB, and family, Jessica (Adam) Sobkow and son Colton,  Colin (Crystal), and Nichole Ragush.    He was predeceased by his first wife of 36 years, Shirl (nee Koenig) Lefebvre (October 6, 1993); parents, Gus and Marie (nee Moisan) Lefebvre; one sister, Aline Lefebvre; in-laws:  Tony Koenig, Carl Reinelt, and Vi Lefebvre; and by numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws of the Koenig and Schmitz families.  The Prayer Service for Marcel was held at Holy Guardian Angels R.C. Church, Englefeld, on Friday, December 15, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., presided by Marie ven der Buhs and Patsy Knafelc.  Scripture readers were Ivy McGrath and Gail Wittig, and the eulogy was delivered by Aidan Wittig and Nathan Lefebvre.  Memorial table attendants were John and Dolly Bannerholt, and Wally and Gertrude Stratton.  Music ministry was led by Manny Lefebvre and Sandra Athmer.  The Funeral Mass was offered at Holy Guardian Angels R.C. Church on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., celebrated by Fr. Francis Akomeah and concelebrated by Fr. Paul Paproski, OSB. Others taking part were:  Jonathen Lefebvre, crossbearer; Mallory McGrath and Denée Sommerville, scripture readers; Carol and Nichole Ragush, Ron Schmitz, and Jaclyn Chan, intentions; Mallory McGrath, Mason McGrath, and Denée Sommerville, giftbearers; Larissa Lefebvre, Judy Jones, Laurie Breker, and Anita ven der Buhs, memorial table attendants. Music ministry was provided by director Manny Lefebvre, organist Anna-Marie Moellenbeck, and members of the Holy Guardian Angels R.C. Church Choir.  An honor guard was formed by members of the Knights of Columbus.  Honorary pallbearers were Wanda Lefebvre, Les McGrath, Greg Wittig and Val Lefebvre.  Active pallbearers were Nathan Lefebvre, Landon Lefebvre, Jan McGrath, Jonah McGrath, Dylan Wittig, Aidan Wittig, and Griffin Wittig.  Interment followed at Holy Guardian Angels R.C. Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be directed to either the Holy Guardian Angels R.C. Cemetery Fund or the Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation.

This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)