René Chartrand

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of René Chartrand, who left us suddenly on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the age of 87 in Wollaston Lake, SK.

He was born Rainy Chartrand on August 26, 1938 in the Meadow Portage area to Pat and Mary Jane (Lyon) Chartrand. As an adult; he legally changed his name to René Jean Emile Chartrand. He attended Gr. 1-3 in Salt Point and Gr. 4-10 in Winnipegosis. He served as an altar boy in church in the Salt Point Community. He joined the Dauphin Air Cadets for 3 years. After completing Grade 10, he worked in Churchill, MB for the National Harbour Board as a Steam Engineer trainee in the power house, also in the construction of new housing for Transair families.

He commercial fished with his Dad on Lake Winnipegosis, fought fires with the Forestry and he also did some carpentry work. He started working at a local garage as a mechanic - and his love for mechanics began, that passion only grew stronger over time.

He married Louise Little in 1962 and together they had 3 children. They moved from Winnipegosis, MB to Gerald, SK and René was hired as a mechanic; later becoming “the business owner”. While in Gerald, SK, he started competing in Stock Car Racing. Then they moved to Saskatoon, SK. Shortly after, René and Louise parted ways and she moved to Langley, BC with the children. No matter where his children lived… he loved them, talked about them often, told many stories of them and missed them dearly.

René took Mechanical training at the Moose Jaw Campus, followed by his Automotive and Heavy Duty Mechanics at Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon. After completing his journeyman certificate in both trades, he was offered a teaching job in the Heavy Equipment Division at Kelsey Institute. He accepted their offer and his teaching career began - AND AT 87 years old … He was still teaching!!

He married Wilma Kuntz in 1980 and they made their home in Saskatoon, SK.

His mechanical career included working at Strutt Lake, NWT then Rabbit Lake, SK where he had the position of Shop Foreman for 12 years. His next adventure was to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in Africa for 3 years. He was a Foreman of General Equipment at the Lega Dembi Gold Mine, which is the largest gold mine in Ethiopia. He taught many new skills to his crew. He enjoyed his time there but… “He didn’t come home rich or with gold bars in his pockets”. While Rene was in Africa, they applied to adopt Mikal, age 10, from Ethiopia, Africa. …knowing they were bringing home a son was… better than money or gold!

After 3 years of waiting and a lot of government paper work – Mikal, age 13, arrived in Saskatoon on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1995. What a Christmas present!!

After returning back home to Saskatoon in 1995, René opened a mechanics shop called “Professional Mechanical Services”. In 2000, they expanded their business to include a private educational institution for mechanics training of aboriginal students. The Academy of Professional First Nation Mechanics was certified and registered as a private trade school. After closing their private school – we thought he’d retire… But “NO”… he went on to teaching mechanics/automotive/shops at Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation School; his last posting was at Father Megret High School in Wollaston Lake, SK.

René loved doing mechanics, carpentry, hunting, fishing, reading, lifelong learning and quantum mechanics. I’m sure we all agree that his true calling was teaching.

He loved his family, friends, coworkers, students, his horses and his dogs and he especially loved teaching his students. He wanted them to learn to take care of themselves and become independent – hoping they’d become mechanics one day.

René was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year; when his treatments finished - he went back to teaching at Wollaston Lake, SK… his contract would have ended on Dec 19, 2025.

René was predeceased by his parents; brothers Jim, Harry and Nelson; sister Grace; brothers-in-law Allan, Bob and Walter; nephews Joseph and Raymond and great nephews Cory and John.

René will be lovingly remembered, cherished and missed by wife Wilma (Saskatoon, SK); children Rosanne (Kelowna, BC), Barry - wife Sheila (Saskatoon, SK), Laurie (Kelowna, BC) and Mikal (Saskatoon, SK); grandchildren Tyler, Rachel, Mitchell, Katlyn (Brandan), Curtis, Alysha (Brett); great grandson Parker; sisters Lorraine and Julie; sister-in-law Leona as well as numerous nieces, nephews, godchildren, friends, students and coworkers.

Services: Sept 24/25 Father Megret High School in Wollaston Lake, SK; Sept 26/25 Honour and Recognition at the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’ (CAP) Gala in Ottawa, Ont; Sept 29/25 Saskatoon Funeral Home in Saskatoon, SK

Sincere “THANK YOU” to all Family, Friends and Teachers in Wollaston Lake for all your condolences, support and well wishes.

In lieu of flower, donations, IN MEMORY OF René can be made to: Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan OR Cancer Care Manitoba.

Rest in Peace René, your “LOVE & LEGACY” will live on in our hearts forever.

A Funeral Service was held for René on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 10:00 am from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin with Reverend Pat Langlois officiating.  

Interment followed in the Winnipegosis Roman Catholic Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of René Chartrand, please visit our floral store.