Businessman.
Born at Denderleeuw, Belgium on 18 August 1922, son of René and Thérèse Applemans, at the outbreak of the Second World War he was studying at the University of Antwerp. He joined the British Royal Navy and worked on escort convoys between Canada and the British Isles until he was wounded in action.
In 1948 he immigrated to Canada and worked on the Dion family dairy farm at St. Claude. Later he moved to Winnipeg and worked at Supercrete where he met his future wife, Ida Marie LaFortune (1926-2023). They married on 8 August 1953 at St. Mary’s Cathedral and later had four sons. With his concrete and bricklaying skills, in 1954 he built a large home for his family on St. Anne’s Road. He was President of an aggregate plant in St. Boniface for 14 years. He and his wife established Arbo Flora, a nursey and garden business in St. Vital.
He died at the St. Boniface Hospital on 5 May 2006 and was buried in the Woodridge Parish Cemetery.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 May 2006.
“They will not be forgotten” by Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press, 7 January 2007, page B1.
Obituary [Ida Marie Appelmans], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 May 2023.
This page was prepared by John Redekopp.
Page revised: 23 October 2025
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
