May 8th, 1925- December 26th, 2004
Jeremie (Jerry) was born in Quesnel B.C. to Louis and Katherine (K.T.) LeBourdais and died in 100 Mile House B.C. Jerry was predeceased by his mother and father, first wife Eva and infant son Tommy, brothers Eddie and Jim, son Louis and nephew Eugene (Duke) LeBourdais. He is survived by wife Nancy of Horsefly and children Linda (George) Bentley of Williams Lake, Ray (Maureen) LeBourdais of Horsefly, Lorraine LeBourdais (Rob Diether) of 100 Mile House and daughter-in-law Elaine Pawlik of Horsefly. Jerry is also survived by nieces and nephews Laurie Lawlor of Quesnel, Wendy LeBourdais of Quesnel, Pat LeBourdais of Victoria, Jim LeBourdais of Invermere and Vye Graff, Mary Hewitt, Norah LeBourdais and Joe LeBourdais all of Kamloops. Jerry had 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Jerry was raised in Quesnel where his parents operated the telegraph office. His father Louis served two terms as a very popular MLA for the Cariboo. Jerry served in the Navy near the end of WW2 then homesteaded with his brother Jim at Babine Lake. Jerry later worked in the bush near Quesnel where he and his logging partner introduced the IWA into the area. Jerry moved to North Vancouver becoming a well known labour activist in the 1950’s and 1960’s and leading a strike at the Shellburn oil refinery where he worked for 25 years. Jerry travelled to Cuba shortly after the revolution there and to China as a union delegate. In 1971 Jerry returned to the Cariboo with family and young friends to found a rural, organic agricultural commune, first at Quesnel Lake and then at Miocene. A bond was established with the native street people living in Williams Lake. Jerry and the commune publicized the plight of the “Troopers” to whom no other services or support were offered. The commune lived in such places as the Sugarcane Reserve, Toosey Reserve, Riske Creek and Williams Lake. Eventually the commune moved to the 100 Mile House area and is now known as CEEDS. Jerry will especially be missed by CEEDS members Greg, Chiharu, Ernie, Rod, Karen, Rob, Lorraine and his grandchildren Robin and Kelly. Jerry was guided by strong principles and convictions which he strove always to put into practice. We shared many adventures with Jerry. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Jerry spent his last years receiving wonderful care at Millsite Lodge in 100 Mile House — a publicly operated facility. A memorial gathering for Jerry was held January 3rd at the community hall in Lone Butte, B.C.