Eugene Renout
June 21st, 2023
Renout, Eugene (Gene)
December 12, 1934-June 21, 2023
On the afternoon of June 21, 2023, on Summer Solstice, Gene Renout passed away peacefully in his sleep at Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge B.C. at the age of 88 with family at his side.
Gene was the 2nd born child of 8 to Art and Anne Renout and was raised in Omemee Ontario. He started working at age 16 initially in surveying and filled the rest of his career in the Construction Civil Engineering business. He worked on many large projects in many places including the locks on the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste Marie Michigan in the 1960s, the Paris Bridge in Paris Ontario, several hospitals in Northern Ontario, the Canada Malawi Railway in Malawi Africa and many large building projects in Alberta and British Columbia.
For the past 25 years, Gene lived in Maple Ridge with his wife and best friend Bella enjoying the wonders of the outdoors; and designing, perfecting, and cultivating his beautiful backyard garden.
He loved his life out west but often made the trip back to Southern Ontario to connect with family and friends; especially enjoying the annual Harding Family Reunion.
Gene also made many trips from BC to Alberta to visit his daughter Paige and her children, taking them on exciting adventures and teaching them the wonders of nature and the world. When “Grandpa Gene” came to town the family home came alive with love, family, and friends.
Gene enjoyed traveling abroad and exploring new places, hiking in the mountains, walks by the river, politics, ecology, history, and world events, reading, and spending time with family and friends. His adventures included white water rafting, whale watching and salmon fishing on Vancouver Island with his grandchildren, climbing Kilimanjaro, visiting the Australian Outback, and walking on hot coals in Fiji during a ceremonial event.
He was the family historian with his last trip to France where he met and spent a week with a cousin and her family after finding them through Ancestry DNA.
Many of us remember him sharing his knowledge about the bees and butterflies and enjoying the blueberries and strawberries from his Garden. He also loved the music of Ian Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot and had a never-ending thirst for knowledge. He found peace and serenity inside himself at the Abbey.
Gene is survived by his common law wife Bella Edlund, his children Dale (Pat), Karen (Rob); Barb Mitchell (John), Paige; his grandchildren Kristi (Mark), Heather, Josh, Justin , James (Taylor), Allison, Emily, Liam and Adrian; 5 great grandchildren (Rylan, Jordan, Kaleb, Logan and Hannah); his sister Arlene Scott (Jim-Pre deceased), Carol Dawson (Wibb) and brothers Aurel (Carol) and Ray and many nieces and nephews across Canada. He was predeceased by his brothers Robert and Owen and his sister Delores. Gene also leaves behind Bella’s large caring family which became his family (Lori (Spencer, Brenna, Quinton& Michaela), Trevor (Kyle), Heidi & Darin (Brittany & Brandon) Nicole & Riadh (Tala Bella & Faiza).
A celebration of life will arranged at a later date.
Rest in peace dear Gene! You are in our hearts forever.
Messages:
Always enjoyed our interesting visits with Gene, mainly at the Harding Family Reunions. He told us about his many adventures from trips around the world and the building of bridges, one of the last was in the USA. He looked so much like grandpa Silas Harding it was like looking at grandpa's brother. Our deepest sympathy to his family. Your cousin Patricia Lagana, husband Sam and our children Chris and Natalie. Love you forever and Gene will be remembered in our prayers.
May your journey back home to God be peaceful and free of any pain. I work with your daughter Barb and she is a fantastic woman. Please know you raised a wonderful woman. God bless and may you rest in peace.
We are so sorry for your loss, Aunty Bella and family. I always enjoyed my conversations with Gene he was a lovely man may he rest I peace. ❤️