Rene was born on January 8, 1922, to Eugene and Martha (nee Beaudet) Poncelet. He was raised on the farm in the St. Hubert’s area with his family of four brothers and four sisters.

Rene, who served as a soldier in World War II, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at the age of 96 years. That he managed to live to that age is remarkable, given what happened to him in the Second World War. Rene was with a company called the Winnipeg Royal Rifles and traveled to England to fight in the war. He, along with several other soldiers, landed on the beaches of Normandy. He served in France, Belgium and Holland. Rene was injured in Holland and transferred to a hospital in Belgium. He was then moved to England, where he spent five months in hospital.
When Rene returned to Whitewood, he developed a pen-pal relationship with a young woman named Nannette Duffy, a beautiful redhead full of energy and adventure, from Dublin, Ireland. In 1958 Rene went over to Ireland and asked Nannette for her hand in marriage. They returned to Whitewood, where they settled on a farm and started a family.

Rene was predeceased by his wife, Nannette, in 2000; his parents, Eugene and Martha; his brothers, Albert, Eugene, Joe and Louis; and his sisters, Rosa, Alice, Diane and Mary. He leaves to cherish his memory: his daughters, Valerie (Richard), Sandra (Steve), Maureen (Darwin); his son, David; grandchildren Brandy, Jill (Joseph) and Brennan (Janell); Shane and Ashton; Shana (Mike) and Josh (Sydney); Kally and Brynn; and several great-grandchildren, Jace, Jayde, Kayhl "Bugsy", Ireland; Kayden, Hudson, Jaeger; Brooks; and baby Ellis, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Dad, we will miss you.