We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Joseph Gilles Lafontaine CD, (Ret’d) at home on 19 July 2003 after a long illness.
Gilles was born in 1942 in Kenmore, ON. He enrolled in the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers in Ottawa, ON in May 1960 and trained at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC. From there he was posted to 1 Field Squadron, Petawawa, ON. After three years he left the military only to return a year later as a Military Policeman serving in Camp Borden, ON followed by Longue Pointe Garrison in Montreal. QC.
In 1967 Gilles remustered back to the Military Engineers and was posted to 2 Field Squadron in Camp Gagetown, NB and a year later to 4 Field Squadron in Fort Victoria, Werl, Germany. This was followed between 1971 and 1986 with several back and forth postings between 5 Escadron du Génie de Combat in Valcartier and the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, finally returning in 1986 to 5 Régiment du Génie de Combat in Valcartier from where he retired from the Regular Force in 1990. However, Gilles continued to serve as a reservist with 10 Escadron du Génie in Quebec City, QC for four years.
In retirement Gilles worked for La Société SNC Lavalin Engineering in the decontamination of military ranges in Eastern Canada. In addition he qualified as a long haul heavy transport driver. In 1999 he took his final retirement and settled in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier near Quebec City where he took up gardening and did volunteer work for his church.
Visitations will be at Claude Charest Funeral Services, 21 Jolicoeur Street, Sainte-Catherine-de-Jacques-Cartier, QC on 22 and 23 July. Funeral service will be at Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier Church in St Catherine on 23 July. Cremation to follow with the ashes to be buried in St Albert, ON. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Quebec Region, 1040 Belvédère avenue, Sillery QC. {gdJan2016kh}
