LACLARE - Clarence Louis Joseph September 27, 1929 - January 29, 2012 Clarence Louis Joseph LaClare was born near the end of the Roaring 20s, grew up during the Dirty 30s, and was too young to go to war in the 40s. He was the youngest child of Howard and Marie-Louise LaClare, who worked hard to make sure it was a good life for their children. It was a time when not everybody had electricity, cars were becoming more common, and every boy had a dog and a horse. As a young boy, Clarence and his brother Walter spent much of their free time playing hockey during the winter at the rink in Vawn or in the summer, at Picnic Lake or other places of interest, usually accompanied by several McCaffery, Weber, Devlin, Foster and Brownridge boys. At 21, Clarence was married to a pretty schoolteacher form Albertville and together they had 6 children. Dad played hockey for many years and we sometimes got to go and watch him. When he hung up his skates, he got more serious about curling and as an excellent skip, often brought his rink to the prizes. He passed on to his children his love of cards, which he inherited from his mother who was an excellent bridge player. There were Sunday rituals for every season. We spent many Sundays after church visiting back and forth with our aunts and uncles and it was great excitement to play with cousins. Since there were around 68 of us in all, there were always same-age cousins to play with. When no family visits were planned, there was a long leisurely drive all over Langmeade, checking the crops, going to Picnic Lake to check the cattle and shoot gophers. We knew all the back roads and where all the deer and geese were. During fishing season, you could find our family fishing at the bridge at Jackfish nearly every evening, followed by a ritual visit to Beulah's store and to visit Uncle Joe L'Heureux. On many Sundays we could be found fishing for pickerel somewhere in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. On hot summer days, we kids waited patiently for Dad to come off the tractor. As soon as the chores were done, we went off to Picnic Lake for a swim and a wiener roast. Uncle Walter's family and Uncle Gilbert's family were there as often as we were, and the parents visited while the kids yelled and splashed in the water. We all learned to fish and hunt with Dad. During hunting season, the McCaffery and Lacoursiere boys would start showing up before dawn. After a quick coffee and some hunting stories, they'd be done, and as we got older, we went along too. We went Saskatoon berry picking every July, having scouted all our best bushes long before. Clarence was also a good neighbour and a good friend. People were attracted to him because he was funny and like to have fun. He was always there to lend a helping hand to farmers who needed it and he often went to help others get their crops off when he was done. Family succession was important and at his father's insistence, Clarence took over the homestead to become the third generation since 1904 to farm at SE 1-48-19-3. Dad was proud to say that 6 generations have lived in that old house. The original farm included most of the LaClare Uncles' homestead quarters that had been proven in the early 1900s. During his time as a farmer, Dad saw it all - hail, insects, drought, and snow, and always had the hope that this year would bring a bumper crop. In the years it wasn't fallow, Uncle Eddie's quarter could always be counted on to bring an excellent yield. Since Dad had cattle, milk cows, and pigs, along with Mom's huge garden and the chickens and turkeys she raised, we never wanted for anything. Helping Dad with the harvest was a family affair. We hauled and shovelled grain, baled and stacked straw and hay, drove to town for parts and brought meals to the field. In the late 50s and early 60s, the Canada Agriculture Research Station in Saskatoon put rapeseed back on the map as the specialty edible oil cash crop, which, through selection, became canola. Clarence was amongst the first farmers in the district to plant it and this became his own "Success Story" since things started to get better on the farm. Not long after, Dad began to look at the old Dunn place in Langmeade with the view of buying it. That land was a hunter's dream, mostly bush and a farmer's nightmare with only a few large clearings that were being farmed. By 1966, the land belonged to the LaClares and Dad was breaking his back and his machinery to get it cleared. We spent many long summer days at Dunn's - hard hours as a family, picking roots, watching the huge bonfires while Dad bounced across the field cultivating. We had the best tailgate dinners and suppers in those days and soon, the quarters were broken and with rapeseed and what prices increasing, and Dad's skills as a farmer, there was a bit more money to go around. Unfortunately, in the early 70s, Dad started to get severe blood clots in his legs and landed in the hospital at least twice during harvest. By 1976, Clarence and Cecile had gone their separate ways, the land was sold, and that was the end of the LaClare family farm. Dad moved off the farm to Meota and lived there with Joyce for many years. They travelled extensively until her death. Clarence spent his final years living quietly in his home at Meota. Clarence is predeceased by his parents George (Howard) LaClare and Marie Louise L'Heureux; his brothers Leopold, Gilbert, and most recently his best friend and brother Walter. He is also predeceased by 3 granddaughters in infancy, and his son in law Blair Whitt; his friend and partner Joyce Puckey. Clarence is survived by his 6 children: Frankie LaClare, Don LaClare, Louis LaClare, René LaClare, Carol Whitt, and Howard LaClare; 18 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Mabel Bru, Pauline Cadrin, Phyllis Deschamps, Marie Liebeart, and his sister-in-law Betty LaClare. Donations in Clarence's memory can be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Condolences for the family may be left at Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Sallows and McDonald - Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home, North Battleford. CARD OF THANKS The family of Clarence LaClare wishes to thank Drs. Jana and Unger, and many other doctors and nursing staff who cared for him during his stay at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon. We also wish to thank Dr., Johnson, Dr. Bairagi, and the staff in the Palliative Care Unit for the care he received at BUH. Thank you to Father Lester Kaufmann who presided over the funeral services, to the funeral directors at Sallows and McDonald - Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home, to the ladies of Our Lady of Fatima Parish at Meota and St. Hippolyte Parish at Vawn, and to all those who gave of their time so willingly these past few weeks.
