It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Leo Joseph Valcourt on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at age 75.

Leo was born on August 17, 1948, in Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba. He completed part of his education in the one-room classroom of Saint-Patrick's School and went on to obtain his BA at Brandon University, working summers as a surveyor with Natural Resources, which would develop into a lifelong vocation. In 1972, he married Deborah Johnson and later that year their daughter Tracy was born. They lived in Ste. Rose until Deborah's retirement, when they moved to Brandon.

A talented athlete in his youth, Leo was a well-known pitcher for the Ste. Rose Seals, whose team members fondly referred to him as "Mad Dog." Leo remained active throughout life – hiking, biking, and paddling in the company of Deborah. His most enduring form of physical activity was weight training; even the pandemic could not interrupt him so that when gyms became inaccessible, he created his own in their garage. Leo also loved to hunt deer, and to the disappointment of some trophy hunters, what he loved best about the activity was watching nature in solitude from the elevated perspective of a tree stand.

Leo is survived by his wife Deborah, daughter Tracy, two grandchildren, Octavio and Ofelia, and his sisters, Sharlene (Paul), Jean (Tom), Rita (Clarence), and Bev (Jerry), along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Eileen, and his brother Brian.

He will be remembered for his love for his family, his sense of humour, and his ability to accept life as it came.

The family will cherish Leo's memory privately.

Donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the SPCA