Obituary of Leo Victor Berube

He was a son, a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle and a friend. Leo Berube was a loving, generous, and honest man. It can be said that he lived his life the way he did, simply because he wanted to. His life and his home were a product of who he was as a person, and his life was filled with people he cared for and connected with in a way that only he could. People gather to celebrate who he was, and not just to morn his passing. Leo was a family man. He had often explained that, as a young man, he wasn't entirely uninterested in family life. He had worked in mines, and drove truck for several years, living a somewhat solitude life. Violet Bankiner caught his eye, and his stomach, when she met him while serving food at the Boston Flats truck stop which was operated by Vi and her mom. His visits became more frequent as their relationship developed. The couple eventually moved to Kamloops and got married. Within a few years, Leo built a house, and by the end of the 70's had two "bouncing" boys. Leo loved animals. He proudly had 2 cats, 3 dogs, fish, hampers and birds. The cats and dogs, Tillie, Tuffy, Tia, Tammy and Molly, were loved by him as if they were his own children. Leo was generous to the people around him. He was also a mechanical genius, never hesitating to build or re-engineer something for someone, whether it be a bike, hood fan, or an entire vehicle. He was never one to be concerned with what people thought of him. There was no misunderstanding what he was thinking or what he felt. Honesty and the truth meant everything to him. As much as he valued truth and reason, Leo was made up of some interesting contradictions. He always found the energy to question something that didn't make sense to him, to wonder why, and to value the opportunity to be enlightened. As the saying goes, "To know him was to love him." Though, he might have a chuckle if we were to say, "To keep knowing him, you have to love him." We all knew him very well, and loved him even more. Leo was predeceased by his sisters Colette and Denise; brother Magloire. Leo is survived by his wife of 38 years Vi; sons Mike, Robert; sisters Julie (Joe), Violet, Jeanine (Stan), Louise (Jim); brothers Omer, Blair; and many nieces and nephews. Leo passed away October 1, 2009 in Kamloops, BC at the age of 64 years. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 1:00 pm from Reynars Funeral Home; Pauline Haycock officiated; Interment followed in the Dawson Creek City Cemetery. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Leo to the South Peace Hospice Palliative Care Society.