Obituary of Lucien "Luce" Cools

Luce Cools - Oct 17, 1939 - June 4, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Lucien (Luce) Arthur Cools on Tuesday June 4, 2024, at home in his 85th year.

Predeceased by parents Michael and Bertha Cools, who immigrated from Belgium, sisters Jean Bruneel (Roger) and Lillian Walker (Harvey). 

Survived by best friend and spouse, Deanna (Bekaert) and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.  He will be dearly missed by daughter Vimy Barnard Roberts (Paul), and extended family Linda Neely (Barnard), Craig Barnard (Germaine), and goddaugher Linda Breault. 

Grandfather to Jolene, Erin, Jordan, Jacob and a proud “Pechie” Maeve and Addison. 

He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.  

Luce was born and raised in Ridgetown, Ontario. He started working at a very young age, first with the Hudson Bay Company in the north, but he soon moved back to Ridgetown and started his long and remarkable career as a car salesman, loyally with Dodge-Chrysler. The first few years of work were with Johnson Chrysler-Dodge dealership in Ridgetown and then before with  Lloyd Dickson in Thamesville. 

He then moved to Chatham to the Bert Stacey Dealership whose dealership had been purchased and relocated to Richmond Street and was known as the Waekens-Krochak Chrysler-Plymouth - this dealership continued until the mid 1990s when new owners named it Kent County Chrysler.  That dealership was purchased by a new owner and moved down he street to become Chatham Chrysler. 

Luce took great pleasure in connecting with people, both in his work and community service. Work was important to him and it brought him so much joy, working up until the day before he passed. He was glad to mentor colleagues, sharing his pearls of wisdom. Luce was a very proud member of the Chrysler Guild, recognized for his unprecedented commitment to service and sales. His salesmanship was formerly recognized by the Chrysler Corporation as he was a member of Chrysler Senate 18 times - recognition of the top 50 Chrysler salespeople in Canada. Luce was recently acknowledged for his 60 years of being a dedicated Chrysler Representative in April 2024.

Luce valued community service and giving back. He was a proud member of the Ridgetown Legion. He was a member of The Kinsmen Canada, serving as the Chatham Kinsman Club President and was honored to represent the Club as their District Deputy Governor in his travels across Canada. He also served as a Board Member and President of the Chatham/Kent Crime Stoppers for many years.  He was also the President of the Kent Club where he was an active member for many years. His involvement in these organizations resulted in life long friendships, and these connections were something he cherished. 

Luce loved football and was a devoted Detroit Lions fan.  He held season tickets and had the best road trips adventures to cheer them on with a regular group of friends, but also loved taking friends and family to games. He followed football games closely, loved a good wager, and no one could dispute the stats he would know about football.  

He was a great man, loved and respected by so many, leaving an indelible impression and a legacy of kindness, loyalty and hard work.

Respects can be paid at the Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home at 156 William Street South, Chatham Ontario on Saturday June 22, 2024, from 1 to 4 pm. Or at The Kent Club at 287 King Street West on Sunday June 23, 2024, drop in Celebration of Life, from 1 to 5 pm, remarks at 3 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Chatham Kent Hospice or Chatham/Kent Crime Stoppers would be greatly appreciated.