Bill Parenteau
1962 - 2014

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of William (Bill) Elmer Parenteau, beloved husband of 29 years to Sherry (nee Tait) and devoted father to daughter Amy. Bill was also a loving son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, godparent, co-worker and a faithful friend to all who knew him. Bill was born in Prince Albert, SK in 1962 to Betty and Elmer Parenteau and was raised with his seven siblings. Bill is survived by his wife Sherry; daughter Amy; his mother Betty and stepdad and very close friend, Wes Neepin; siblings, Rick (Darlene Handley) and their children, Andrew (Sabrina Sproxton) and Danelle (Devin Vansteelandt). Philip (Linda Lehoullier)) and their children, Corey (Anne Laverne) and Kristin (Lowell Epp), Donna (Chuck Tilford) and her children Graham, Keith and Robyn. Terry (Cheri Lewis) and his children Nicole (Ryan Vermette) and Troy (Aaron Wiesner). Conrad (Valerie Middleton) and their children, Jennifer (Robby Malone), Bryson (Jayelle Paskiw) and Jordan. Kimberly (Dennis Ledoux) and her children Cody (Becky Quickfall), Cole (Andrew Chiles). Angela (Lyle Demerais) and their children Skyler and Kimber-Raine; great nieces and nephews, Mackenzie, Camdyn, Azarie, Gaige, Blake, Bo, Phoenix, Tashanna, Keely, Lane, Kylen, Aliah, Callum, Cecilia; father-in-law Alvin Tait; his companion of many years, Marie Patchin; sister-in-law Jane (Wayne Parenteau) and their children Brad (Amanda Fennel) and Katherine, Marie (Lucien Gareau) and son Lee, Glen (Janice Pocha) and their children Sarah and Stefani; great niece Mya; great nephew Brody; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. Bill was predeceased by his father, Elmer Parenteau; his mother-in-law, Melva Tait; his brother- in-law Lucien Gareau; his grandparents Clara Hodgson, Edward Hodgson, Pat and Rose Parenteau; nephew Brody Parenteau, brother-in-law Lee (infancy) and other family members from both sides of the family. Bill grew up in Prince Albert and attended Princess Margaret Elementary School, Riverside Junior High and Carlton Comprehensive High School. Bill's first job was as a server at the Husky restaurant and after a short stint there he went to work at Chicken On The Run as a delivery boy and to this day he still holds the record for the most deliveries in one night which also earned him his first speeding ticket. Bill worked at Pepsi and left there and joined Coke in 1982, working in several departments that spanned 31 years. In June of 2013 Bill found his dream job, at Greenland Waste where he was employed at the time of his passing. Bill truly loved his job at Greenland and Sherry remarked that it put the spring back in his step and the smile back on his face. It was at Coke that Bill met the love of his life, his wonderful wife, Sherry. They married in 1985 and the second love of his life, his daughter Amy was born in 1997. In October of 2000 Bill, Sherry and Amy moved to "the farm", affectionately known as 34 acres of prime swamp land. This little piece of paradise became the gathering place for family and friends to come together and enjoy fun, food and laughter. Bill always said it wasn't big but it was his pride and joy. The door was always open and the coffee pot was on. Bill had a love of entertaining, especially cooking and always made sure everyone had plenty to eat and drink. Bill's siblings share many fond memories of growing up in a large household and as the family has reminisced these past few days, since Bill's passing, the stories that have been shared have brought much laughter and many tears and the one thing that they all agree on is that Bill was the glue that held everyone together. Bill made time for people and could be found in the stands, cheering loudly at ball games, hockey tournaments, ringette, dance recitals and just about every activity that his family participated in. Aside from his family, Bill had many interests that he enjoyed, cooking, golf, fishing, listening to music, playing one of his many guitars, cheering on his favourite sports teams, talking to family and friends and leisurely drives in the country. His biggest enjoyment was working outside in his yard. He found it very peaceful and relaxing to sit on his riding lawn mower and cut the grass on the "back forty". His family and friends fondly remember that Bill made a point, each and every day to call up family members to touch base with them to make sure everyone was doing fine and the family joke was that if anyone needed to know where somebody was, they just had to call Bill because he would know who was where and who was doing what. In the past couple of years, Bill made a point of picking up his father-in-law, Alvin and taking him for an afternoon drive, enjoying a burger and touring through the back roads checking out the crops in the fields and the cattle in the pastures. Bill was a devoted husband and supported Sherry during the years she played competitive sports, driving around the country side, attending weekend tournaments with her and her teammates. This same devotion carried over to his daughter Amy when she took up Irish dancing. Bill spent countless hours driving Amy back and forth to Saskatoon to attend her dance lessons and on weekends he would pack up the family and they would attend Irish Feisianna, throughout western Canada. Amy danced competitively for nine years and Bill never missed the opportunity to show off her many medals and trophies. Bill was a man with a huge heart and he loved to give of his time and resources to help out other people, whether it was for family, friends or strangers that he had just met. Bill was loved by all who knew him and his passing has left a huge void that can never be filled. In lieu of other tributes the family requests that donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the MacDowall and District Recreation Foundation or a charity of donor’s choice. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at the MacDowall Recreation Centre with The Reverend Norbert Haukenfrers officiating. Interment will be held at Deer Park Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray's Funeral Chapel, Lorne Adams, Funeral Director (306-922-4729).