VERMEERSCH: It is with sadness that the family of Emil August Vermeersch announces his passing at the Assiniboine Centre in Brandon, Manitoba on April 28, 2003. Funeral service was held at Memories Chapel on May 1, 2003. The Royal Canadian Legion Branches #3 and #247 formed an Honor Guard. He was born in Langenberg, Saskatchewan on March 15, 1918 to Mary and Edmond Vermeersch. He was the fourth child in a family of ten. He enlisted in the RCA in 1941 at Regina and was discharged in 1944. During that time he was stationed in Brandon where he met Isabel Askin. They were married in November of 1944 and went back to the home farm at Langenberg. The following year their daughter Joan was born. They moved from there to the Askin farm at Justice and in 1951 they moved to their own farm. He was always ready to help someone in need and organized many work bees to finish seeding or harvesting for a neighbor. He drove the snowplow for many years spending endless hours on the road after a snowstorm. He was a founding member of the Justice Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and served as the first President and held every office after that. He also served as the Deputy District Commander as well as Zone Commander. When the Justice Branch folded he became a member of Branch #247 and later Branch #3. He was a member of the Sparling Cemetery board until recently. He loved to curl and spent many winters at the Justice curling rink, Riverview Curling Club, an attended many bonspiels around the area. He was very proud of the 8 ender he scored at one of those bonspiels. He made many friends wherever he went and his grandchildren always said, "If Grandpa didn't know someone, give him 10 minutes and he will". They retired from the farm in the spring of 1978 and moved to Brandon in March of 1979. Many winters were spent in Arizona and the summers were spent on the golf course at Glen Lea as well as the cabin at Clear Lake. The barn dance at Sportsman Park was a favorite spot to meet old friends on a Saturday night. He always loved a good party and even better if there were music and dancing involved. Many trips were made to southern Ontario to visit his 4 brothers and their families. He was an avid Blue jays fan and spent many hours watching his team on television. His 5 little girls were the love of his life and he was always glad to have them come for a visit. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 58 years, Isabel, his daughter Joan and her special friend Fred, his granddaughter Cindy and her husband Brent, his grandson Neil and his wife Nancy and his 5 great granddaughters, Jordan, Randi, Cassandra, Danielle and Logan. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Pauline and Albert Degryse, his sister Isobelle Davis, his brother Archie and Bernice and sisters-in-law Frances, Blanche and Mary. Emil was predeceased by his parents Edward and Mary Vermeersch, brothers John, Alfonse, Ivo, Raymond and Ernest Vermeersch and sister Elizabeth Suenhsschlof. Cremation has taken place. A private graveside service was held May 1, 2003 at Sparling Cemetery. The Urn bearers were his grandchildren, Neil Wallace and Cindy Curry. If so desired a donation in memory of Emil may be made to a charity of your choice.