Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthFebruary 11, 1896
Place of BirthKenora, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinMrs. Florida Degagne, mother, 34 Valade St., St. Boniface, Manitoba
Trade / CallingClerk
ReligionRoman Catholic
Service Details
Regimental Number2382469
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion1st Depot Battalion Manitoba Regiment
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedConscripted
Address at Enlistment34 Valade St., St. Boniface, Manitoba
Date of EnlistmentApril 30, 1918
Age at Enlistment22
Theatre of ServiceCanada
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJune 23, 1966
Age at Death70
Buried AtSt. Boniface Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Degagne, Joseph Emmanuel

Joseph Emmanuel Degagne was born on 11 February 1896 in Rat Portage (now Kenora), Ontario. His parents were Pierre George Degagne and Florida Charron. Siblings included: George (1893-1970), Emile (1894-1953), Leo (b. 1897), Maria (1899-1899), Albert (1901-1901), Ida (1902-1903), Flora (b. 1904) and Clovis (1906-1915). The 1911 census showed the family  living in the neighboring town of Keewatin where Pierre was working as a boat builder.

By 1916 the Degagne family had moved to St. Boniface, Manitoba and Joseph  was working as a clerk in The Blue Store on Main Street, Winnipeg.  His father and brothers George and Emile enlisted with the 230th Forestry Battalion and travelled overseas for service in WW1. Along with his brother Leo, Joseph was drafted, both signing their attestation papers on 30 April 1918 in Winnipeg. He served in Canada with the Manitoba Regimental 1st Depot Battalion until his discharge due to demobilization on 03 January 1919 at Minto Barracks in Winnipeg.

Joseph married Ernestine Couture on 23 August 1920 in St. Boniface (now part of Winnipeg). Born on 12 November 1897 in St. Boniface, Ernestine was the daughter of Pierre Couture and Philomene Cusson. The 1921 census found the newlyweds living with Ernestine’s parents and some of her siblings in St. Boniface, later making their home on nearby Langevin Street. They gave birth to two known children, daughters Lorette and Louise. Over the years Voters’ lists of St. Boniface gave Joseph’s occupation as commission agent and salesman.  According to his obituary he was advertising manager for the Canadian Publishers and was also connected with the CKS radio station.

Joseph died suddenly in Regina, Saskatchewan on 23 June 1966. At the time of his death he was survived by his two daughters Lorette and Mrs Louise (Harvey) Little, brothers George and Leo, sister Flora Tafe, and four grandchildren. Ernestine died on 22 July 1995 and is buried with Joseph and her parents in St. Boniface Cemetery.

Degagne-Joseph-Emmanuel-2 Degagne-Joseph-Emanuel-3

Gravemarker photo courtesy of Albert Riezebos, Canada Gen Web Cemetery Project


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