We regret to advise of the death of Honorary Colonel Jean Trepanier, OMM, CD, (Ret’d) at the Laval University, Enfant-Jésus Hospital in Quebec City, QC on 19 December 2016 at the age of 69.

Jean was born in Quebec City.  Joining the Royal Canadian Engineers at the age of 17, he served a 31-year long career in the Reserves.  Jean started his career as a Sapper with 10^e Escadron du génie de campagne (10^th Field Engineer Squadron) in 1964.  He undertook his training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC; Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown, NB; CFB Valcartier, QC and CFB Montreal (Farnham Garrison), QC. 

In 1974, Jean was promoted to the rank of Master Warrant Officer and appointed Squadron Sergeant-Major - a post he held for seven years.  He was Commissioned from the Ranks in 1981 to the rank of Captain and appointed Squadron Deputy Commanding Officer.  In 1984 Jean was promoted Major and became the Squadron’s 13^th Commanding Officer and held this position until the summer of 1987.

Upon leaving this command, Jean was appointed Senior Staff Officer Engineers at Headquarters Secteur de l’Est (Reserve Force) in Quebec City and simultaneously held the position of Commanding Officer of the Reserve Force Training Centre for Quebec from 1988 to 1989.  He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1988 after completing the Army Staff Course at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College in Kinston, ON.  Jean retired from the Canadian Forces in October 1995. In 2008, he was given the honour of being appointed Honorary Colonel of his former unit, now renamed 35^e Régiment du génie de combat (35 CER).

In civilian life, Jean was a licensed Insurance Broker.  From 1977 to 1978 he held the post of Director and Secretary of the Quebec Association of Insurance Brokers.  In 1978 he created his own brokerage firm with an associate.  From 1988 to 1993 he was member of the administrative council for the Louis-Hebert Centre, an organisation that provides motor, hearing, vision and language-impaired persons of all ages with adaptation, rehabilitation and social integration services.  From 1986 to 1987 Jean was President of the Quebec Chapter of the Military Engineers Association of Canada and, from 2005 to 2010 he was vice-president of the Quebec International Military Music Festival.   Jean was a recipient of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 in recognition of his service to his community, as well as being inducted into the Order of Military Merit in 1988.

Visitation will take place at the Lépine Cloutier Funeral Complex, 1500 boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec on 23 December at 1 PM followed by the funeral service at 4 PM in the Complex Chapel. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Quebec, 1040 Avenue Belvédère, Quebec City. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. ^{{gdDec2016kh}}