It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jean Gertrude Remple, age 85, on Friday, October 16, 2015, at the Cypress Regional Hospital. Jean was born on January 28, 1930, to Bill & Gertrude Switzer. She grew up during the “Dirty Thirties” with her younger sister, June. She met and married the dark-haired Richard from the south side of the tracks on January 26, 1949. From an early age, she made it abundantly clear that although she was young and there wasn't much money, Rich had a mischievous and fun-loving streak that she admired. She chose well, they shared 66 years of their lives together in a wonderful and adventurous marriage. After their wedding, Jean followed Rich to Moose Jaw, Edmonton, and finally to Swift Current where she worked at numerous jobs — clerk at Kling's Clothing Store; bookkeeper at Massey Harris and at the Swift Current Sun; and her long-time employment as a receptionist at the Pierce & Kern Dental Office. Her unbelievable work ethic did not stop with her day job, she was a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen — switching from homemade warenikes, to melt-in-your-mouth roast pork, and the planet's best banana coconut cream pie with the ease of a master chef. Meals at the Remple house were always a culinary adventure, her recipes will continue to be used by her family and friends for many years to come. If you were lucky enough to be invited for dinner, you also were invited to "see the yard.” Every home that Jean & Rich lived in showcased their undeniable skill as prairie gardeners, flowers and trees of all varieties won numerous awards and brought in birds by the flock. A favorite pastime was to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of their homemade wine and watch the visitors that often included hummingbirds, pheasants, and on occasion, skunks. At a time when women were not expected to be off on adventures, Jean was never one to be on the sidelines. She greatly enjoyed going with Rich to far-off places — together they flew to Northern Saskatchewan lakes, rode camels in Egypt, took hot air balloon rides across the Serengeti, toured the
Amazon, and took the Siberian Express across Russia. She even met rocker Bon Jovi in an elevator in Brazil — but her overwhelming love of Latin flamenco music trumped 1980's electric guitar, much to the dismay of her then-teenaged granddaughters. Perhaps Jean's greatest achievement was her ability to be the "glue" that held her family and friends close to her — she was our unofficial letter-writer, card-sender, phone call-maker, and party planner. Jean was predeceased by her husband, Richard, on June 1, 2015. She leaves behind her cherished family: daughter, Debbie & Lyle, granddaughters, Kristen (Garry – and twins, Damon and Olivia) and Karin (Justin – and daughter Sigrid); as well as a large circle of great friends that
were close enough to be considered family. We will all greatly miss her phone calls, her laugh, her hugs, her unbelievable attention to detail, her ability to brighten our day, and her peanut butter cookies that no one will ever be able to replicate. Jean's last wish was to vote in the upcoming federal election on October 19 — we did so in her honor. The family will have a small private farewell at a later date. In memory of Jean, donations made to a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family.
Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to leave a personal message of condolence on the family‘s obituary page, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com