It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Denis “Buzz” Côté on April 23, 2026, at the age of 91.

Denis was born on January 25, 1935, in Steinbach, Manitoba, to Ovide and Louise-Anna Côté, the tenth of twenty-one children. He began life in the small community of Moody, a place he would reflect on often throughout his years, before the family moved to Vassar, where much of his story unfolded.

Dad’s early years were shaped by hard work and family responsibility. He attended school until he was needed at home, joining his father in the sawmill. Despite the demands of work, he found joy in playing baseball with his brothers. They even formed their own team, and it was here that Denis earned the nickname “Buzz.” A talented left-handed hitter, pitcher and catcher, baseball remained one of his fondest memories. He and his siblings were entered in the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

As a young man, Denis spent a year in Otterburne studying to become a priest. Though he chose not to continue, he often said the experience was valuable, ultimately realizing that his place was with his family, helping at home.

In his working years, Denis travelled to Winnipeg and across various provinces, taking on long, demanding hours installing pipeline. He took great pride in this work and would often point out the places he had worked whenever passing through those areas.

Following the passing of his father, Denis took over the family pulp log, firewood business, and sawmill. The early years were difficult, and he spoke often about the challenges of keeping the business afloat. Through perseverance and determination, he built it into a stable livelihood. He believed strongly that employees were the backbone of any business, often saying that it was his responsibility to ensure they were paid fairly for their hard work.

At the age of 32, Denis met Marguerite Nolette, the last schoolteacher in Vassar. She changed the course of his life, and for the first time, he felt ready for marriage. Together, they built a life rooted in love, resilience, and shared commitment.

Not long after their marriage, Denis faced profound loss when his brothers and nephew were involved in a tragic accident. This heartbreak stayed with him throughout his life. He spoke of it often, and in those moments, the depth of his love for his family was unmistakable, reflected in the quiet sadness in his eyes.

After their marriage, Denis and Marguerite built their first home together, a place that quickly filled with love and family. They welcomed their son Darryl, who brightened their lives with his laughter, antics, and energy. Whether it was splashing in spring puddles or playing in the winter snow, Darryl was always the apple of his dad’s eye. Six years later, Audrey was born, becoming Darryl’s little sister and daddy’s little girl. She spent many days watching out her bedroom window, waiting for the big truck to pull in so the family could sit down together for supper.

Their home was never empty. The door was always open, the coffee was always on, and there was always room for one more at the table. Denis was truly a host at heart, and right up to his final days, he made sure everyone who walked through his door had something to drink and a place to sit.

Dad enjoyed going on road trips with his close friends Phil and Marie Prevost. They travelled to California, Texas, Florida and across Canada. He and mom enjoyed bus tours and went on 4 trips. Dad also enjoyed bowling, curling and would often come home with stories that would make everyone laugh and he would enjoy the laughter. He also spent many years travelling to Mexico where he went with many people and met many more new friends. He and mom seemed to be those people that everyone wanted to talk to.

Family meant everything to Denis. Many cherished memories were made on road trips, often riding in the back of the truck under a camper shell, heading to Ontario to visit Uncle Jim and Aunty Louise. There were long days of fishing, blueberry picking, and enjoying “blueberry everything.” Weekends were often spent gathered with aunts, uncles, and cousins, where laughter was plentiful and the fire was always kept burning strong. Denis found great comfort in these moments, often sitting back quietly, watching his family enjoy time together.

Denis also believed in giving back to his community. He served as a councillor in Vassar and later as Deputy Reeve, roles he took great pride in. Vassar was the place he felt most at home, and he worked to make it a better place for those around him.

In 1984, Denis made the difficult decision to move his family from Vassar to Steinbach. While life changed in many ways, Denis himself never did. He remained the same welcoming, generous man, with an open door and a warm heart. Though work often took him back to Vassar, summers brought special time for Audrey, who spent her days swimming, riding motorbike, and waiting for her dad to come home for supper—moments that became treasured lifelong memories.

Denis will be lovingly remembered by his loving wife, Marguerite; his son Darryl and grandson Colton; his daughter Audrey, her spouse Ed, along with their daughter Zane (Caleb) and their son Zack (Rebecca) and his newest pride and joy his great-grandchildren Eden and Atlas. He is also survived by two brothers and three sisters

He was predeceased by his parents, Ovide and Louise-Anna Côté; sixteen siblings; and several in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Denis will be remembered as a hardworking, devoted family man whose life was defined by perseverance, loyalty, and deep care for those around him. His stories, his strength, and his steady presence will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the paramedics, RCMP, Dr. Minnaar and all the nurses and hospital staff at Bethesda who took such great care of Denis and his family in his last moments. Your kindness, compassion and care made all the difference.

The memorial service will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. To join the family via livestream, please click HERE.

Donations in memory of Denis may be made to Pat Porter Active Living Centre.

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