Obituary for Arthur "Art" Ollivier
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Arthur Ollivier (Art), announce his passing on May 24, 2021. Art battled pancreatic cancer with great strength and courage, which is how he faced all of life’s challenges. He fought valiantly to the end, leaving a legacy for all who knew him to emulate. He truly was inspirational.
Art was born on April 23, 1951, to John and Eva Ollivier, at home during a blizzard in ST. Brieux, Saskatchewan.
Later, the family would also reside for a time in Humboldt as well as Melfort, before settling in Tisdale where Art completed his grade school education. Art developed an appreciation for a game of golf during those years and continued enjoying the game throughout his lifetime. Art furthered his education by obtaining his journeyman status in Auto Body Repair. He honed his skills in this field to perfection with a zest that he carried throughout his career. He owned and operated his own shop for nearly 45 years, successfully serving 3 generations within the same family in some cases.
On July 7, 1972 Art married Sharleen Wallington. They would go on to share and face the ups and downs of nearly 49 amazing years together. The greatest pride of Art’s life were the four children that they raised together and later their well-chosen spouses and nine of the best grandchildren that God ever created. In birth order those families are son Trent and Chantelle (Jackson) and their son Drayden, daughter Trisha and Stan Forsyth and their sons Keanen and Dylan and their daughter Annika, son Tyler and Joanna (Cooley) and their sons Derian and Kostyn and daughter Zaelia and son Jesse and Brittney (Debacker) and their daughter Aleah and son Jalen. Art didn’t love any of them more or less. He just loved and accepted them all with his great big heart.
There wasn’t anything that Art couldn’t do. His attention to detail in everything that he did was stellar. He was a mechanic, and electrician, an accomplished carpenter, an architect, an engineer, a plumber and repairman. He was even a farmer, if only in his imagination, when he was baling hay for the miniature horses. He used to request lunch in the field on those days. In his later years Art became and avid model railroader. His artistic ability coupled with his visionary nature, made his projects both unique and compelling.
So what do you call a man who did all of this, and yet, still had time to love his family and friends, teaching in a quiet way how to be a decent human being. He showed us by example how to be patient with one another and how to forgive each other’s shortcomings. Rarely did he correct with words. His thoughtful example spoke volumes and just made a person want to do better. To us he is called the world’s best husband, dad, father-in-law, grandpa (papa), brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend.
Art is predeceased by his father John Ollivier, mother Eva Ollivier (Sauve), father-in-law Alvin Wallington, mother-in-law Frances Wallington and precious nephew Garret Keays.
Left to cherish his memory are his previously named immediate family members, along with brother Joe (Wanda) Ollivier, brother Yves (Karen) Ollivier, sister Gail (Barry) Harbridge, sister-in-law Donna (Greg) Fritshaw, brother-in-law Lionel (Dianne) Wallington, sister-in-law Chris (Garth) Keays and sister-in-law Sandy (Brad) Tokaruk, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.
The family sincerely wishes that everyone who wanted to attend Art’s funeral would have been free to do so but COVID 19 restrictions prohibited an open invitation. A closed family memorial was our only option.
For Art, the best is yet to be…until we meet again dearest. We will love you to the moon and back, forever.
Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society as a token of remembrance
Private Family service will be held
Livestream (1:30 p.m.) will be available through the
Tisdale Pentecostal Church YouTube Page
(Tuesday, June 8, 2021)
Art was born on April 23, 1951, to John and Eva Ollivier, at home during a blizzard in ST. Brieux, Saskatchewan.
Later, the family would also reside for a time in Humboldt as well as Melfort, before settling in Tisdale where Art completed his grade school education. Art developed an appreciation for a game of golf during those years and continued enjoying the game throughout his lifetime. Art furthered his education by obtaining his journeyman status in Auto Body Repair. He honed his skills in this field to perfection with a zest that he carried throughout his career. He owned and operated his own shop for nearly 45 years, successfully serving 3 generations within the same family in some cases.
On July 7, 1972 Art married Sharleen Wallington. They would go on to share and face the ups and downs of nearly 49 amazing years together. The greatest pride of Art’s life were the four children that they raised together and later their well-chosen spouses and nine of the best grandchildren that God ever created. In birth order those families are son Trent and Chantelle (Jackson) and their son Drayden, daughter Trisha and Stan Forsyth and their sons Keanen and Dylan and their daughter Annika, son Tyler and Joanna (Cooley) and their sons Derian and Kostyn and daughter Zaelia and son Jesse and Brittney (Debacker) and their daughter Aleah and son Jalen. Art didn’t love any of them more or less. He just loved and accepted them all with his great big heart.
There wasn’t anything that Art couldn’t do. His attention to detail in everything that he did was stellar. He was a mechanic, and electrician, an accomplished carpenter, an architect, an engineer, a plumber and repairman. He was even a farmer, if only in his imagination, when he was baling hay for the miniature horses. He used to request lunch in the field on those days. In his later years Art became and avid model railroader. His artistic ability coupled with his visionary nature, made his projects both unique and compelling.
So what do you call a man who did all of this, and yet, still had time to love his family and friends, teaching in a quiet way how to be a decent human being. He showed us by example how to be patient with one another and how to forgive each other’s shortcomings. Rarely did he correct with words. His thoughtful example spoke volumes and just made a person want to do better. To us he is called the world’s best husband, dad, father-in-law, grandpa (papa), brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend.
Art is predeceased by his father John Ollivier, mother Eva Ollivier (Sauve), father-in-law Alvin Wallington, mother-in-law Frances Wallington and precious nephew Garret Keays.
Left to cherish his memory are his previously named immediate family members, along with brother Joe (Wanda) Ollivier, brother Yves (Karen) Ollivier, sister Gail (Barry) Harbridge, sister-in-law Donna (Greg) Fritshaw, brother-in-law Lionel (Dianne) Wallington, sister-in-law Chris (Garth) Keays and sister-in-law Sandy (Brad) Tokaruk, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.
The family sincerely wishes that everyone who wanted to attend Art’s funeral would have been free to do so but COVID 19 restrictions prohibited an open invitation. A closed family memorial was our only option.
For Art, the best is yet to be…until we meet again dearest. We will love you to the moon and back, forever.
Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society as a token of remembrance
Private Family service will be held
Livestream (1:30 p.m.) will be available through the
Tisdale Pentecostal Church YouTube Page
(Tuesday, June 8, 2021)