Jean Rene Simard, 82, passed away peacefully with his wife at his side on January 5th, 2017. Beloved husband to Elizabeth, father to Judy (Phillip), John (Michele), Roger (Carole), Fred (Carol) and Jennifer (Terrence), grandfather to Carla (Andrew), Evelyn (Kevin), Janine (Dom), Latea (Nelson), Jonathan, Justin, Zoe, Emma and Alesha, and great grandfather to Amelia, William, Karsyn and James. He is also survived by his siblings, Jeannine Simard, Huguette Simard, Margo Gaudreault, Aline Simard and Claude. He was predeceased by a brother Marcel.
Jean was born in Montreal and moved to the Kapuskasing area at 17 years of age where he met his wife and raised their children. He worked for Spruce Falls and Tembec for 42 Years and volunteered for many years with Meals on Wheels and sat as Chairman for the Local Citizens’ Committee for 11 years. Jean loved to be out on the land with his family and had a contagious passion for life and learning that touched anyone who met him. Spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren was what he treasured along with going back whenever he could to where he and wife first built their home at Mileage 22 on the Smoky Line.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 8 at the Guenette Funeral Home from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at St Mark’s Anglican church on Monday at 2:30 p.m. with reverend Valerie Isaac officiating. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated.