We regret to advise of the sudden death of Sergeant Richard “Rick” Villeneuve, CD (Ret’d) at his home in Spruce Woods MB on 1 September 2011.

Rick grew up in Ottawa ON and with his parents’ permission,  joined The Royal Canadian Regiment at the age of 17 years. Later remustered to the Canadian Military Engineers as a heavy equipment operator. He spent time across Canada at bases including Alert before arriving in Shilo in 1983 where he was employed in the support of the German Army training activity in Shilo. He retired in 1996 and stayed in Spruce Woods having come to love life on the prairies.

After retirement, Rick worked at the Shilo Golf & Country Club while his family continued to grow and he became a great-grandfather, “Pappy”.  He was an active member of the Spruce Woods Lions Club,  the Wild Life Club, the Spruce Woods Community Club and other community activities. . Hunting and fishing were his main hobbies. He also enjoyed bowling, target shooting, snowmobiling and helping his wife coach soccer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Shilo Catholic Chapel at CFB Shilo on Tuesday 4 October. Private interment will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Rick may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Soldier On Program (Helping Homeless Veterans). Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.