Emile George Labranche

July 25, 1927 – April 16, 2013

Emile passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at the Canmore General Hospital. Predeceased by his beloved wife Nevis. Lovingly remembered by his children Janine ( Terry ) Jevne, Robb ( Rinda ), Trevor ( Patty ) and their families, as well as a circle of other relatives and friends. A celebration of Emile’s life will held at St. Andrew’s United Church,

128 First Street E., Cochrane, Alberta on Saturday, April 20th , 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

Emile was born July 25, 1927 in Athabasca, Alberta. He was the second youngest child of Lula Belle and George LaBranche and grew up in the Athabasca area. Baseball was Emile’s passion and he was a talented catcher, playing for the senior team in Athabasca when he was only fifteen. He lived with his aunt and uncle and attended Eastwood High School in Edmonton.

Emile went to Alberta College in Edmonton and then was hired by Union Tractor and moved to Grande Prairie, where of course, he played ball in a competitive league. He eventually returned to Athabasca to work. It was during this time he met the lovely Nevis Robb, a teacher at Athabasca High School. They married December 27th, 1950 and had two children in Athabasca, Janine and Robb. Trevor was born in Edmonton, where Emile and his Dad owned and operated a garage station.

Drayton Valley was the next stop for the family of five, where Emile owned and managed Oil King Motors. Emile curled in the winter and hunted in the fall. The family remembers their many summer picnics way out in the bush near the Brazeau River. After a terrible fire and the loss of the car dealership, Emile regrouped and always the entrepreneur he moved forward with other successful businesses.

Emile and Nevis retired to Robb, Alberta, a peaceful retreat filled with special memories for all the grandchildren. They loved their evenings of bridge and rummy with their family and friends who lived in the hamlet. Losing Nevis in 2001 was a sad milestone for Emile and the whole family. He stayed in Robb until 2006 and then made the move to the wonderful Big Hill Lodge where he spent the next seven years enjoying his grandchildren.

The Waffle and Omelet King is gone, but remembered fondly by his children and grandchildren: Janine, Terry, Dana, and Andun Jevne; Robb, Rinda, Bryce and Jennifer LaBranche; Trevor, Patty, Austin, Caylee and Rachelle LaBranche. Emile was predeceased by his brothers Ken LaBranche, Leo Vincent, Gilbert Vincent, and Al Vincent, but remembered by his sister, Opal and his sisters-in-law: Doris LaBranche, Anne Vincent, Doreen Vincent, Bernie Vincent, and; one brother-in-law, Neil Whiting, and his many nieces and nephews and of course, Katie Dog.

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in Emile’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta, 10531 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 4K1 or

www.alzheimer.ab.ca To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Emile George Labranche, please visit our flower store.