Arthur Joseph Pierrard
July 26, 1924 - July 10, 2015
As published in the August 17, 2015 World-Spectator
Arthur Pierrard of Rocanville, Sask., beloved husband of Vilja Pierrard passed away on July 10, 2015 at the Southeast Integrated Care Centre in Moosomin, Sask. He would have celebrated his 91st birthday on July 26.
Arthur Joseph Pierrard was born in Gleichan, Alta. on July 26, 1924 to Thomas and Maria Pierrard. Later on the family moved back to the Bellegarde, Sask. district. During the depression years his family decided to move to Whitebeach, Sask. with their herd of cattle in the hope of finding better feed for them. Unfortunately a lot of the cattle didn’t survive the change of feed and cold weather. It was while they were living at Whitebeach, when he was 11 years old, that his mother passed away after the birth of his sister. In 1941, the family made the move back to the farm at Antler, Sask. It took over two weeks for them to complete the journey.
Art was one of the oldest children in their large family and in his early years he helped his father with the family farm. He remembered working with his father custom threshing for 32 straight days one time. He also worked out and brought his wages back home for his father. Later on he worked at Rock Creek, B.C. logging with his oldest brother and also at Terrace, B.C. building an airport just before the war. He was called home as a recruit for the Army and passed his physical. But his father needed him at home again to help with the farm and he was given a postponement allowing him to stay home.
He was introduced to Vilja Rohleder in 1948 by his sister Marie and Vilja’s brother Wolfgang who were married later that year. On May 8, 1949 Art and Vilja became engaged and then on October 10, 1949 they were married in Manor, Sask. They had six children together: Henry, Bob, Brian, Marilyn, Carol and Ruth. They farmed near Antler, Sask. for a few years and later moved to the Ryerson, Sask. area and then to Redvers, Sask. He worked at Redvers Hotel for several years and then in 1962 they purchased and operated Fairlight Hotel. It was sold in 1966 and the family moved back to Redvers. He worked at several jobs before working with the Department of Highways. In 1972 he and Vilja took over Fairlight Hotel again and two years later also purchased Rocanville Uptown Hotel. Both hotels were operated with son Henry and his wife Ann until they sold Fairlight Hotel in 1976 and then purchased Rocanville Uptown Motel. After a busy few years they sold Rocanville Uptown Hotel and then the following year Rocanville Uptown Motel. In 1979 they retired and purchased land north of Rocanville. This became their home where they enjoyed many years of happy family gatherings.
Art loved being outdoors. He took great enjoyment working in their garden and taking care of the strawberry and raspberry patches. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved their camping and fishing trips over the years. He kept busy cutting and selling wood at home for many years. He also dedicated countless hours of volunteer work to his church.
Last July Art and Vilja both celebrated their 90th birthdays and on October 10th their 65th wedding anniversary. He was very fortunate to enjoy so many years of good health until recently.
Funeral mass was held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 2 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, in Rocanville, Sask. with Father Joseph Kuruvilla as celebrant.
Art is survived by his loving wife Vilja; sons, Henry (Ann), Bob (Rhonda) daughters, Marilyn (Bill) Palmer, Carol (Don) Greening, Ruth (Chico) DeCorby and daughter-in-law Marg; 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Jeanne Toupin, Julie Perreaux, Marie Rohleder, Maria Wilvers and sister-in-law Edith. He was predeceased by his son Brian, great-grandson Dominic DeCorby, his brothers Gus, Bert, Joe and sisters Irma Nadeau, Bertha Coutts, Maggie Sylvestre and a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Art was a strong, proud and hard working man as well as a kind and caring person. He was so very much loved by all of us. We will miss him more than words can ever express.
"If there ever comes a day,
"When we can not be together,
"Keep me in your heart,
"And I will stay there forever."
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