Leslie (Les) Ransome Stouffer

Leslie (Les) Ransome Stouffer

It is with tremendous sorrow that we, the immediate and extended family of Leslie, announce his passing surrounded by loved ones, on October 17, 2023 at the age of 89, after a courageous battle with cancer.  The world truly lost one of the very best, and although it is quite difficult to capture such an exceptional man and his wonderful life in words, we will nonetheless try.  Les was a kind, patient, humble and compassionate man who loved his family dearly- four generations of them.  He was so very loved by all who knew him, and as a family we will forever be grateful for the profound impact he has had on our lives. 

Les was born on May 20, 1934 in Holmfield Manitoba to Gordon and Lily Stouffer (nee Ransome).  One of seven children (Ella, Jean, Joyce, Robin, Leslie, Brian and Frankie), he was also raised in Holmfield, where he and his siblings shared many fond memories together.  Les met the love of his life, Mary Irene Mayers, in the fifth grade, when she moved to Holmfield from Plumas Manitoba.  They completed their schooling together and upon graduating, he began training at the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).  Les and Irene were married in Winnipeg in 1954, and after Les’ CPR career briefly brought them to Emerson, Manitoba and Upsala, Ontario, they subsequently settled in Broadview Saskatchewan in 1957, where they raised their four children- Diane (Allen) Dyke, Wanda (Dean) Zarusky, Shelley and Kevin (Carla) Stouffer.  A family deeply rooted in love created generations of fond memories made within their home in Broadview.  Their immediate family of six grew to include nine grandchildren Danielle (Trevor) Brady, Kristopher (Dana) Dyke, Aaron (Dwayne) Redekopp, Dena (Virgil) Zarusky, Jennifer (Lee) Mardle, Brydon Fodey, Brittany (Zakary) Elliot, Keenan (Kya) Stouffer & Caitlyn Stouffer, who were all cherished by Les and Irene.  Their legacy continued to expand through the next generation of eleven great grandchildren: Lukas, Kirin, Kayden, Jakob, Josalyn, Owen, Liam, Emmett, Karter, Sullivan and Lily, whom were also so loved.

Les had a long and distinguished career at the CPR that spanned many decades and multiple provinces: in 1952, he began as an Assistant Agent, and shortly thereafter in 1953, he was promoted to Telegraph Operator, working in various railroad stations across Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.  Les’ devotion to the CPR continued at the Broadview train station as an Operator for almost 40 years until his retirement in 1990, which afforded him with many years to spend with his beloved family and friends. 

An avid and talented curler and golfer, who was a founding member of the Broadview golf course, he spent much time there with friends and family.  Indeed, many of his grandchildren will forever recall the memories made both on the course, as well as traveling between his home and the course on his golf cart, which doubled as their earliest driving lessons.  Les also enjoyed gardening, and spending time sharing his many special possessions in his backyard workshop with grandchildren and great grandchildren.  A long-standing member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Lions Club, as well as a volunteer driver for the Kinsmen community shuttle, who always made time for friends at the local coffee shop, Les was an incredibly important part of his small town Saskatchewan community for many decades.

To know Les was to love Les.  He will be dearly missed by so very many- a testament to the incredible son, father, uncle, grandparent, great grandparent and friend he was- his legacy will undoubtedly live on in the many lives he positively impacted.