Maurice Lionel Dagenais

Dad was born on November 17, 1935 at the family farm six miles west of Marcelin on the NE34-45-7-W3. He was the youngest child of Harvey and Antoinette (Robin) Dagenais. He grew up there, going to school at Crown Hill and completing his education in Marcelin. Dad enjoyed horses as a boy and continued that fondness into his later years. 

 On February 23, 1954 he married Angeline Casavant, daughter of Henry and Blanche (Desjardins) Casavant from the Windsor Lake District, west of Blaine Lake. They shared his parents' home for the first few years until Harvey and Antoinette retired into Leask. They had a meagre start with a cow, a pig and $17 in their pockets, and in Dad's own words "with love, hope and ambition". Dad took over the family farm, making it his life's work. They raised their five children there. Throughout the years they had milk cows, pigs, chickens and beef livestock in addition to the grain farm. Dad served several terms on the local school board and Blaine Lake School Division Board. In 1994 Dad followed his father's footsteps once again, when he and Mom retired into Leask. The family farm was handed down to the next generation, with sons Gerald and Murray taking over.

 In their retirement years Dad and Mom enjoyed wintering in Yuma, AZ.

In 2004, just after their 50th anniversary, Dad and Mom moved into Saskatoon. Dad enjoyed playing bridge at the Saskatoon Bridge Club. After Mom passed away, Dad remarried to Lucille Mann in 2017.

Dad was predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Angeline; his parents and all eight of his siblings (the oldest having died as an infant) as well as an infant granddaughter, Cheryl Dagenais. He is survived by his children: Lionel (Sandy Nicklin) Gerald (Tina Brad), Janet (Courtney Skrupski), Linda (Brian Schmalz) and Murray (Pam Klee). He also leaves behind 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, his former daughter-in-law Corinne Handelman, and his second wife, Lucille Mann.

 A celebration of Dad's life will be held at a future date. His ashes will be interred next to those of his first wife, Angeline, at the Marcelin Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marcelin Cemetery Committee.