Obituary of Eugene Albert Joseph Dupuis
Eugene Dupuis
Eugene Albert Joseph Dupuis died at 2:00 AM, January 2nd, 2023, at Victoria Union Hospital in Prince Albert SK. He was born November 21st, 1940, in the district of Hoey SK, son of Albert and Délima Dupuis (Bernier).
Eugene attended various primary schools as the family farm moved from Hoey to Prince Albert and then to Foxdale district North of Shellbrook SK. In 1953 the family bought a home in Prince Albert where he completed his primary and secondary education. He graduated from high school at Notre Dame College in Prince Albert. He then continued on to the University of Saskatchewan where he took Arts and Science. After university, he worked as a geologist assistant in a mine at Uranium City, SK. After this, he spent some time working on the family farm, and then in 1968 began working at the new pulp mill in Prince Albert. After a few years, he tired of shift work and decided to go back to farming and develop a farm of his own. In 1975, Parsons and Whittemore, the company which owned the pulp mill asked him to go to Algeria to assist with the start-up of a mill they had built there. He placed his farm in the care of his brother Andre and a nephew and spent just over a year on this project.
He spent the rest of his life living and working on his farm. He was very innovative and was always ready to experiment with better methods. Over the years he converted his land to organic agriculture. He firmly believed that success in farming was measured more in how you looked after your land than how much money you made. For many years, and until the very last, he grew a large garden and donated most of it to the Prince Albert Food Bank.
Eugene was an active member of the St. Agatha’s RC Church community in Shellbrook SK. He volunteered his labour in the building and fundraising to build the new church. He volunteered with the youth group within the church and participated in the choir until just recently when his health took its toll on his voice. He also volunteered his time with the Big Brothers Association, and over several years helped improve the lives of three young men.
He was an avid skier, both cross country and downhill, and for many years enjoyed an annual trip to the BC mountains.
Despite being a bachelor, Eugene was a great family man. He’s considered to be very special by many nieces and nephews and his siblings. This is because he’s the one who has always made the most effort to maintain contact with them via telephone calls and visits.
Eugene is lovingly remembered by his friend and pal, Bear his dog; his siblings: Dorothée Gray of Prince Albert, SK, Lucien (Donna) Dupuis of Shellbrook, SK, Paulette Ainsley of Mission, BC, Bernard (Peggi) Dupuis of Prince Albert, SK; his sister-in-law, Helen Dupuis of Shellbrook, SK; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great-nephews.
Eugene was predeceased by his parents: Albert and Délima Dupuis; his siblings and in-laws: Thérèse (Gerry) Beauchamp, Denise (Dominique) Provencher, Hélène (George) Kendel, Alberta (Rod) Nerbas, Diana Mansfield (Merv Messner), Sister Lucille of the Order of the Presentation of Mary, André Dupuis; his brothers-in-law: Harold Gray and Jim Ainsley; his niece: Joanne Gray; and his nephew: Gerald Kendel.
There will be a Memorial Mass held for Eugene on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. from St. Agatha’s RC Church in Shellbrook with Father Tuan Doan officiating.
In lieu of tributes, memorial donations may be made in memory of Eugene to the Prince Albert Catholic Schools Band Program (118 11th St E, Prince Albert, SK. S6V 1A1) cheques payable to PA Catholic School Division or etransfer to accountsreceivable@pacsd.ca memo: in memory of Eugene Dupuis.
Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Tammy Smart Funeral Director, Shellbrook, SK 306-747-2828.
