Emil Gendreau

Emil Oscar Gendreau, 92, of Walhalla, ND passed away in the early morning of Sunday, August 19, 2012 at the Pembilier Nursing Center, Walhalla. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 23, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cavalier Evangelical Free Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 22nd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Askew Funeral Home, Walhalla, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Walhalla. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Faith in Action or the Walhalla Ambulance Service.
Emil was born to Albert and Emelia (Lepire) Gendreau on May 23, 1920, at the Landry house in Walhalla. Emil attended the first and second grades in Olga, ND and completed grades three through eight at Poplar Grove.
In 1934, Emil farmed with his dad for nine years and in November of 1943, at the age of 23 was drafted and inducted into the Navy in Minneapolis. He spent 12 weeks at Coeur d'Alene, ID for basic training. For 14 months, he was a Gunner-Seaman First Class on the SS McDonough #321, and was discharged in 1945.
On November 22, 1946, he married Gloria Clairmont. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last fall. Emil farmed his entire life. He enjoyed farming and was good at it. As kids we always wondered how he knew what crop was in each field-they looked the same to us! He loved to hunt, especially with his son and grandson and rarely missed what he was shooting. In his 80's, he bagged an elk and a moose on his own land. Emil loved to garden, it was only after he was 92 that he decided he was "too old" to garden. He provided produce for anyone that would take it! We never came home to visit in the summer without making at least one trip to the garden.
Emil and Gloria travelled a lot. Among their travels, were trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Panama, and to see family where ever they lived. One of his most enjoyable trips was in April of 2009, when he travelled to Washington, DC with the WWII Veterans with the Northern Valley Honor Flight. He enjoyed himself immensely recounting his service experience 65+ years later.
He served on several boards including the Walhalla School Board, Walhalla Elevator, Walhalla Coop, and the Rural Fire Department.
We children remember what a wonderful father he was. We were blessed with many years with him. He taught us so many things and in many ways was a man of few words! His grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved him!
Survivors include his wife, Gloria; children: Mark (Cindi) Gendreau, Walhalla; Susan (Joe) Belcourt, Grand Forks, ND; Karen (Dale) Aaberg, St. Louis, MO; and Holly (Kirk) Ohlheiser, Bismarck, ND. Missing grandpa are: Michael Gendreau; Ben and Chelsea Aaberg; Rachel (Ohlheiser) Reid and Jaimie (Ohlheiser) Samson; and great-grandchildren: Matthew and Thomas Gendreau; siblings include: Doris Gapp, Ovide Gendreau, Morris (Pat) Gendreau, Stanley (Evelyn) Gendreau, and LaRae McDonald.
Preceding him in death were his parents and twin sons, Patrick and Michael Gendreau.
Clergy: Pastor Bill Crosby
Casket Bearers:Michael Gendreau, Chelsea Aaberg, Ben Aaberg, Rachel Reid,
Jaimie Samson, Joel Jacobson, Jack Karel, and Paul Sproule
Military Rites: Bartlette-Resler Post #62, Walhalla American Legion