Gaston Riendeau

Gaston A. Riendeau, a successful farmer, logger, jack-of-all-trades and lover of any food involving peanut butter and molasses; was born in Coaticook, Quebec, Canada on 27 July, 1939 to Roland and Julienne Riendeau. At a young age Gaston fell in love with working in the outdoors and embraced logging with his father. In this post-WWII era logging in the Northeast was still performed using horses, man-powered crosscut saws and axes. Throughout his early life he worked hard in logging camps and as a contract logger throughout the Northeastern United States. As America surged out of the great depression and WWII, Gaston found himself deeply involved in all of the major infrastructure projects of the postwar period throughout Northern Vermont. It is difficult to find a power line, gas pipeline or road project that he was not involved in. In 1980 at age 40 he had been logging for approximately 25 years and decided to pursue agriculture in the form of dairy farming. The family moved from Wheelock to Sutton, VT where they repaired an old farm and officially began dairy farming in 1982.
Gaston was the sort who always preferred constant work and innovation to slowing down, even if only for a moment. Previous attempts at slowing him down included marriage to his wonderful wife of 56 years, Beatrice in 1960. When it became obvious that marriage wasn't going to inspire him to seek a 9-5 job, many thought the six children they had would surely do the trick. This backfired because it resulted in six accomplices who all shared his love of hard work and constant improvement. Dairy farming turned into a combination of farming, logging, trucking and heavy construction. Later attempts to slow him down included several surgeries, broken bones and the occasional illness. These also failed and many of us suspect this simply gave him more time to think about new things to do. Perhaps it was during one such forced vacation that he decided cows did not present a great enough challenge and he promptly introduced the Western Buffalo to the North East Kingdom. We also suspect that such an incident prompted him to reflect on his love of maple syrup, thus the overnight emergence of a full blown maple sugaring operation. Those of us lucky enough to have called him a friend or family can attest to the fact that you never knew what you might get into on any given day. Most certainly living and working with him was always exciting and challenging in a manner that left you eagerly anticipating the next day. You were never going to be bored working with Gaston!
Though a man of few words, he was always witty, charming and possessed great powers of observation; a trait critical to his chosen profession. He was a man of immense inner and outer strength; a very kind and deeply generous man of very high standards and astonishing work ethic. His sense of community, especially the farming community was on full display as over the years he repeatedly set aside his own work to help other farmers when he spotted trouble. When it came to helping others, Gaston was always the first there and last to leave, often arriving before you were fully aware of the problem in the first place. Typical of his character he refused all attempts at compensation for his efforts. Insulted at the thought, he always declared that some day he might need a hand and that one good turn deserves another. The example he set was always one of excellence, generosity and quiet compassion mixed with the virtues of hard work and commitment.
On Tuesday, 19 April, 2016, at the age of 76 years old, Gaston was called away to greener pastures. He departed, surrounded by his wonderful wife and six children who suspect that in heaven he will make everyone try Beatrice's pancakes with peanut butter, molasses and real maple syrup before putting literally everyone to work on his latest idea.
He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; his sons, Richard Riendeau (Jennifer) of Danville, Gerard Riendeau (Rita) of Lyndonville, Paul Riendeau (Tina) of Lyndonville, Lawrence Riendeau (Cynthia) of Lyndonville and Russell Riendeau (Anne) of Lyndonville; his daughter, Cecile Berry (Russell) of Lyndonville; Ben Morrison (Morgan) of West Burke and Nathanael Morrison of Sutton who were like sons to Gaston; his brother, Dennis Riendeau (Jean) of Connecticut; his sisters, Gisele Sherburne of Lyndonville, Diane Lizotte (Fernand) of Connecticut, Jeanette Marquis (Percy) of Ft. Myers, FL; 19 grandchildren, Christine, Marc, Derrick, Lance, Cherree, Michelle, Caitlin, Ryan, Maegan, Karl, Kevin, Denielle, Eric, Celine, Joseph, Andrew, Dylan, James and Nicolas; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Gaston was predeceased by his siblings: Pauline Pelletier, Roger Riendeau who died in childhood, Jean 'Mike' Riendeau, and Jack Riendeau.
Visiting hours will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Guibord Funeral Home from 6-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at the St. John the Evangelist Church at 11:00am in St. Johnsbury on Winter Street with burial immediately following in the St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Lyndonville.
Memorial donations may be made in his name to St. John the Evangelist, 49 Winter Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.
Memories and condolences may be shared privately at www.guibordfh.com.