ORILLE A. HOGUE "HOAGIE"

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ORILLE A. HOGUE "HOAGIE" March 25, 1922 - December 13, 2013 After a long and fulfilling life, Orille passed away peacefully at the Portage Hospital at the age of 91. He was born to Harry and Augustine Hogue on March 25, 1922 into a family of four brothers and six sisters. He was predeceased by his wife, Gwen (Tooth) Hogue in February 2012, his parents, an infant sister Claire, his four brothers, Fred, Edmund, Leon, and Walter, his sisters-in-law, Rose, June, Gwyn, and Louise Tooth, his brothers-in-law, Paul McCaughan, Wilbur Shirtliff, and Ted Lund. He is survived by his sisters, Jeanette (Murray) Smail, Claudette Lund, Florence Shirtliff, Cecile (Gary) Conlon, Leona McCaughan, his sisters-in-law Bernice Hogue and Jean Tooth, his brother-in-law, Stewart Tooth, and many nieces and nephews. Orille's early days were spent on a farm in the Poplar Point area. There he developed a very strong work ethic that carried on throughout his life. In his younger years, he developed a love of sports and hunting. He had a passion for most sports and in his later years watched them all on the TV - "extra loud", of course. He enjoyed curling, golfing, hockey, football, baseball, and horseshoes - anything with a ball, stick, club or rock. In 1942, Orille joined the army at the age of 20. He served until the end of the war in 1945 serving as a radio operator with the Lake Superior Regiment. He fought in the liberation of Europe and had many stories to tell about his experiences. After the war, he was a member of the Canadian All-Star Hockey team that toured Europe and Britain in 1945. Many will know him as the "war correspondent" for the local Portage paper. He brought a whole new light about the war to a new generation with his stories. Many of the readers were impressed with his ability to share his experiences and with his incredible memory. Being a veteran was very important to him and he spoke at many Remembrance Day services. To him it was particularly important to share with the young people so they would understand the sacrifices made for their freedom. When he returned in 1946, he went back to work, where he started before the war, for the Department of Highways and stayed there 46 years where he retired as a superintendent. Even after retirement, he would be known to stop and show workers how to do their job properly - always ready to "share" his knowledge. He was highly regarded by his co-workers and kept in touch with many over the years. With his smile, friendly banter and zest for life be it at work or play, he made many long and lasting friendships. In 1954, he married Gwen Tooth from Oakville. He met her at a dance when she was only 14 and he said he knew right then that he would some day marry her. They were very dedicated to each other until her death in 2012. He and Gwen enjoyed people and spent many hours hosting their dinner parties. They loved all the children in their lives. They made special efforts to attend birthday parties, Christmas gatherings and always had gifts and Halloween bags ready for each of them. Together they traveled extensively, many times following the Silver Broom Championships around the world. There were very few countries where they had not set foot. They embraced all their travels with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. Who didn't know "Hoagie"? He was everywhere - golfing everyday at the Portage club until his late 80s, at a Terriers game, at the curling rink - later even in a wheelchair, square dancing, discussing the Liberal party, delivering catalogues or phone directories for a local club, selling tickets for a group, baseball games, playing cribbage, fowl suppers, reading the paper everyday so he could discuss current events, and having coffee with the Coffee Crew. Orille belonged to the Lion's Club, Portage Golf Club, Portage Curling Club, Canadian Legion and A.N.A.F., served on the Terriers' executive, played baseball with the Liniment League and hockey with the Portage Plainsmen. Orille was instrumental in having the Poplar Point Memorials 1956-1957 team inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. He wore his Hall of Fame ring with great pride. From hockey rink to tee box, he touched many lives. Orille really enjoyed gardening and working in his yard. He laid in wait for many an hour with his pellet gun for the rabbits and squirrels that were invading his garden. Many of them became natural fertilizer. He always had an abundant harvest and it was difficult to leave his home without handouts of tomatoes, cucumbers or beans. During his latter year or so, he was fortunate to have a group of wonderful caregivers that enabled him to remain in his home. He was always their first concern and they provided him with his autonomy. His family will always be forever grateful to them. Orille was a man not easily forgotten. He was a real gentleman, proud, strong, resilient, great sense of humour - a vibrant man. He has left us with many memories to cherish. He will be forever in our hearts and minds. Funeral service will be held in the Trinity United Church on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Private family interment will take place in Oakville Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home for viewing on Wednesday evening, December 18 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Should friends so desire donations in memory of Orille Hogue may be made to the Children's Wish Foundation, Box 1106, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3C5 or to the Community Foundation of Portage c/o the Gwen and Orille Hogue Fund, P.O. Box 1153, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3J9. A tribute DVD in memory of Orille will be produced by the Omega Funeral Home, condolences may be sent to the family c/o Omega Funeral Home, 83 Royal Road South, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 1T8, 1-800-303-4621 or friends may leave a message of sympathy on our website: www.omegafuneralhome.com "Dedicated to those we serve"

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 17, 2013