Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthAugust 8, 1896
Place of BirthKenora, Ontario
CountryCanada
Trade / CallingShipper
ReligionRoman Catholic
Service Details
Regimental Number2650718
Service RecordLink to Service Record
Battalion13th Brigade
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Field Artillery
Enlisted / ConscriptedConscripted
Place of EnlistmentWinnipeg, Manitoba
Address at EnlistmentKenora, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentFebruary 12, 1918
Age at Enlistment21
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathMay 28, 1978
Age at Death81
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
PlotRC A-1-13

Ouellette, Joseph Cyril

Joseph Cyril Oullette was born August 8th, 1896 in Rat Portage, (now Kenora), Ontario to André Ouellette and Léa Côté. He attended elementary school in Kenora then began working for Cameron Heaps. During the First World War he served overseas with the Canadian Field Artillery. When he arrived in France he was assigned to the 13th Brigade. A few weeks after the Armistice he became ill with influenza and he was in the hospital for two months recovering from his illness and from an operation for a hernia. He returned to Canada in May 1919.

After the war Joseph returned to work for Cameron Heaps which became Western Grocers. It was located on Second Street South next to Tilley’s Drug Store (corner of Second Street South and Matheson Street). The warehouse was serviced by rail on a spur track between Tilley’s and Western Grocers. He eventually became manager of the Kenora Branch. He retired in 1953 when Western Grocers was torn down to build a Shop Easy Store on the same location. He lived in Kenora all his life.

FAMILY: He married Frances Irene Derry, daughter of the late Joseph Derry and Fanny McKewan on Sept. 1st, 1921.

CHILDREN: 1922 Joseph Stanley (Bud) – served as a bomber pilot in the RCAF – shot down over Turin, Italy in November 1943 – buried in Military Cemetery in Florence, Italy; 1924 Mary Leone Frances, married Gerry Duggan, deceased Feb. 8th, 2007; 1927 Joan Margaret, married Dr. Edie.; 1929 Albert Frances, deceased January 28th, 1998.; 1930 Gerald Ami.

Joseph was very active in community affairs. He served on Kenora Council, was a member and Past President of Kenora Disdtrict Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2806, and a member and Past President of the Kenora Rotary Club.

Obituary taken from Kenora Miner and News May 1978.

JOSEPH OUELLETTE: Joseph C. Ouellette, a lifefetime Kenora resident, died in Winnipeg, Sunday May 28, 1978.

Born at Kenora, Aug. 8, 1896, he was 81 years old.  He was predeceased by his wife, the late Frances Derry on Sept. 12, 1975 and also by one son, Stanley Joseph (Bud) during the second world war.  Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Gerry (Mary) Duggan, Mrs. Dr.James(Joan)Edie, two sons, Gerry & Bert Ouellette, all of Kenora, 21 grandchildren, five great Grandchildren, one brother Gerald Oullette, Regina and one sister Mrs. Annie Poirier, Kenora.  The late Mr. Ouellette was employed as manager of Western Grocers in Kenora for many years prior to his retirement in 1958.  He had previously served as alderman on the Kenora town council, was past president of the Kenora board of Trade, past president of the Rotary Club of Kenora, member of the Kenora Curling club, served on the executive of the Kenora Thistle Hockey Club when they won the Western Canadian junior hockey championship in the 1939-40 season.  He served overseas during World War One, was a life member and charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2806 and a member of the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church.  Resting in the Chapel of the Brown Funeral Home until Wednesday, May 31, 1978 at 9:30, thence to the Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Church for funeral services at 10 a.m. with Father C. Lafrenière officiating. Burial will follow in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery.  Mr. Ouellette’s grandsons will act as pallbearers.

 

Prepared by youngest son, Gérald A. Ouellette on January 20, 2013.

 


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