Pelchat – Joseph Gerard W. (Gerry) Pelchat passed away on March 16, 2003 at the age of 79 at the Brooks Health Centre following a long illness. Gerry was born in Pontiex, Saskatchewan, on June 16, 1923, the sixth of eleven children born to Louis and Aurore Pelchat. He lived on the family farm until the depression forced the family to move to Fairholme, Sask. in 1932.
In 1936 the family then relocated to a farm in Attica, Sask. and made a final move to Rolling Hills, Ab. in the spring of 1940. Gerry helped on the family farm in the summer and held various jobs in the winter to help support the family.
Gerry met Muriel Philpott in the fall of 1942 and they were married July 4, 1945 while Gerry was on leave from naval duty in the North Atlantic. He returned to Brooks after his discharge in 1946 where he and Muriel settled down to raise five boys. In 1973, Gerry and Ingrid DeForest were married creating an extended family of ten children.
Gerry worked as a professional Wildlife Manager for 33 years for Alberta Fish and Wildlife, first as a Fish & Wildlife officer and later as Superintendent of the Pheasant Hatchery and Head of the Wildlife Research Center in Brooks until he retired in 1983. To the many Boy Scouts of Southern Alberta, they will remember him for his work for many years as a Boy Scout Commissioner located in Brooks. He served as a Councilor for the Town of Brooks from 1983 to 1989, and volunteered for Seniors Outreach from 1991 to 2001. He enjoyed golfing and curling, Sunday brunches at the Starlight Cafe with friends.
Gerry was predeceased by his wife Muriel, parents Louis and Aurore Pelchat, his sisters Cecile and Jeannette, and brothers Onil and Herve. He is survived by his wife Ingrid, sons John (Linda), Brian (Judy), Greg (Kate), Michael (Kathy), David (Susan), stepsons Reid (Fay) DeForest, Kirby (Marci) DeForest & stepdaughters Kevah (Bob) Wilcox, Sheila (Glenn) Eaton, Lissa (Herb) Tanigami, Sisters Therese, Noella, Gay and Lillian, brothers Paul and Emil, 21 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 22nd from Brooks United Church. Rev. George Edmonds officiating.
In memory of Gerry, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331-29th Street N.W., Calgary T2N 3G2 or to the Brooks and District Health Foundation, Bag 300, Brooks T1R 1B3. Arrangements in care of Smith Funeral Home. Telephone 362-4636 or 1-866-362-4652.
