Obituary of Leslie George Renschler

Leslie George Renschler passed away peacefully on June 18th, 2011 at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital Extendicare at the age of 85 years. Leslie was born on March 1st, 1926 in Castor, Alberta to George and Rose (Kary) Renschler – the seventh child of 13 children. He is survived by his loving wife Esther (Engel) of 61 years and his ten children, 21 Grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren: Larry (Joyce) and their children – Lyle (Tammy) – their children - Sydney, Ashley, & Kolby, and Ryan (Doreen) and son Casen; Sheila (Hoss) and their children – Candida (Patrick) and their son Alexander, Shauna (Mason) and their son Austin; Wayne (Louise) and their children Mark and Michele; Jim (Susan) and their children – Shelley and her children Jayden and Madison, and Jody (Michelle) and their daughters Charlie and McKenna; Cindy and her children Tara (Greg) and their children Lane, Colin, Heidi and Justine, Paul (Shari), and Craig; and their father Kevin James Brian (Sherry); Charleen (Dennis) and their daughters Amanda (Wayne) and Angela (Tom); Merle (Tammy) and their children Nigel (Sarah), Haylie, and Kendra; Rusty (Debbie) and their children Mallory, Clay and Paige; Stacey (Marcy) and their boys Carter and Duncan. Leslie is also survived by his sisters Tillie Schilling, Hilda Schultz, Lillie Thieleman, Mable Shipton, Mae (Jack) Culley and Bessie (Francis) Jabeouf, as well as his sisters in law Rita Renschler, Betty Ann Renschler and Helen Brigley. He was predeceased by his parents Rose Renschler and George Renschler, brothers Bill, Ed, Percy, Harold and sisters Helen and Velma, brother in laws Harry, Ray, Arnold, Oscar and Clarence. Leslie is survived also by numerous nieces, nephews and good friends. Leslie met and married Esther Engel on October 2nd, 1949 in Castor. They resided on a farm east of Castor where they raised their ten children. Upon reflecting on the various memories that each of the children had, there were many, many good laughs. Dad seemed to have a certain “flair” about him. Those who knew him well know that he loved to do things with his family. We were often found fishing at the pillars, hunting, tobogganing at the Section, camping, going to the creek to look for Christmas trees, playing ball at Lorraine Bridge, and of course - playing cards. Never was there a dull moment when the cards were brought out and a game of Buck, 500 or Hickey was to be played. Those that married into the family either learned to play or stay the heck out of the way!! Dad had a keen mind and sense of numbers – he could tell you what card you played five hands ago and why you shouldn’t have played that one!! Dad always loved the farm and the farm life. Raising pigs, chickens, cattle, and turkeys, along with grain farming, and milking cows was a huge task for him and Mom as they had many mouths to feed. In regards to the livestock – well the stories we could tell about cattle chases are far to numerous to mention, and a bit too colorful!! It seems that Dad’s driving skills were a bit in question as well, but everyone always survived – except the odd cow!! He also like to raise deer. One day he brought home an orphaned deer for the kids to bottle feed – we called her “Bambi”. We ended up tending to her for two years and we put a red ribbon around her neck so the hunters wouldn’t shoot her in hunting season. Dad had a real love for music and thoroughly enjoyed playing his guitar and singing for the grandkids. Both Dad and Mom were active members of the Golden Circle Club and were often found there being entertained by the various musicians that came to entertain or floor curling in the bonspiels In the later years, he loved to sit and listen to his favorite CD – Wilf Carter. Many times you would go to his room at the Extendicare and there he was singing away to Wilf. Gardening was another great passion for Dad. He loved to plant the garden and things had to be done in certain way – skills he has passed down through the generations. Potatoes were, however, his favorite. We often joked that we must own shares in the “Old Dutch” factory as he would never stop planting them no matter how many hills he had in already. However, those potatoes went a long way when it came to the dinner table. I don’t know if anyone here was fortunate enough to ever have eaten a meal at the Renschlers when all the kids were at home. Quite a site – if you were visiting you had better dive in as 5 chickens, a huge bowl of spuds, and vegetables were soon gobbled up by the eager bunch. His daughters all are extremely good gardeners – something he had a hand in teaching them and their tables are always full of home grown food. Dad loved to hunt – deer, moose, geese, gophers, you name it. He always had some time to take his boys out hunting. He loved a good morning goose hunt or a thrilling buck chase. He even won a trophy for his deer hunting efforts. Nothing lit up his eyes more than when his boys or his grandsons would come in with pictures of “the big one” or even bringing the horns in for him to inspect. Along with the hunting season came the sausage making events. Even the last few years, the kids would bring in their samples for him to inspect and try out. The tradition has passed down and I think all of the grandsons have learned to hunt and have that same passion for hunting. Dad was quite a character. He would always try and shock the new in laws or grand kids with the story of his missing thumb, and one would never just walk into their house without knocking as you were never quite sure what state you would find him in!! Another tradition he has handed down to his sons!! He usually had a joke to tell, or a quick witted comment to catch you off guard – especially if you asked him how he was doing? WELL, we all know what his answer was to that one!! Dad lived a great 85 years and spent 61 of those years with the love of his life – Esther – my Mom. His comment was “we started as a pair and ended up with a full house!!” They were a unit – built on trust and family values. Whenever he would look at that big family picture on the wall he would say to Esther – look – we started all that!! He was a proud husband, father, grand father, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Dad will be missed by all whose lives he has touched.