David "Super Dave" Rempel

1940 - 2023

David Rempel of Gimli, MB (born September 8, 1940, raised in Lowe Farm, MB) passed away in the early morning of January 15, 2023 at age 82. Dave was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
He is survived by his beautiful wife, Deanna, his three sons, Blain (Hali), Barry (Bonnie), Brad (Danielle), as well as his six grandchildren Cassidy, Leanna, Matthew, Brenna, Brooke, and Blake. Dave is also survived by his siblings Mary, John, Abe (Judi), Kathy, and Jackie. He is predeceased by his parents Sarah and Jacob, siblings Susie, Nettie, Bill, Tina, Anne, Lena, and Eddie.
Dave was the tenth of thirteen children born to Sarah and Jacob Rempel and grew up with his family in Plumas, MB. This is where he met his sweetheart in high school, Deanna (nee Kreutzer), before spending a short period in northern BC for a year and then moving to Thompson in March of 1962. Dave and Deanna were married in Thompson on November 2, 1963 and would have been celebrating 60 years of marriage this coming November.
Dave had several jobs while in Thompson, but being a machinist at Mutschel Bros. was where lifelong friendships were created and he was affectionately known to the guys as "Red". The crew he worked with were like family and many laughs were had over the years, whether it was in the shop, on a remote adventure, or at the Trappers Tavern during the lunch hour having a cold one. The interesting antics and stories told were seemingly endless.
Dave was also the Labatt's representative during many years in Thompson. This was the ultimate side job for him as it meshed well with what he loved to do; socialize and be with people. People who came across Dave in this era would have been the recipient of his generosity in some way shape or form, most likely a Labatt product or a cold case. He loved people and they loved him. His generosity always came with conversation and kindness.
Dave and Deanna were blessed with three amazing boys – Blain, Barry, and Brad. The boys' childhood home on Silver Crescent was a safe and welcoming home for many. Whether it was a weekend of conversation and playing cards, or a cold beer in the backyard, the Rempels made everyone feel like part of the family. After creating many friendships and lasting memories in Thompson, Dave and Deanna continued their adventure by moving to Gimli in 1999.
Gimli was new to Dave and Deanna, but he took this as an opportunity to meet more people and explore more towns and neighborhoods. It also brought them closer to a beach, which turned out to be a highlight for the entire family. Countless hours were spent playing with grandchildren on the sand or in the water or just simply sitting in a beach chair watching the day go by.
Dave also had a passion for sport, particularly hockey. He got involved with almost every hockey pool or contest that came his way and collected more hockey paraphernalia than one could imagine. He also became an avid fan of the Winnipeg Jets and rarely missed watching a game.
Dave had so many one-liners that his son Brad compiled them into a book. After reminiscing as a family we realized that there may be sequels to the book in order to encapsulate all of Dave's famous sayings. There wasn't often a moment of silence with Dave around as he was continuously whistling, telling a joke or belting out some George Jones.
Dave and Deanna were blessed with the health and ability to travel to many hot destinations and Dave loved being on the beach to work on his tan. They travelled with friends and family to Maui, Hawaii on their 50th wedding anniversary and this became his favorite new destination.
Dave enjoyed the social circles that he was a part of and left a lasting impression on all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was always the first one to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbour and never failed to let others know they were appreciated. He often left a smile on the faces of people who met him.
Dave took his last breath peacefully in the comfort of his home with his loving wife by his side. Loved and adored by many, he will be missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Gimli, MB at a later date. A personal message of condolence can be left on the Gilbart's Funeral Home website.