David Real Rancourt
GREER, S.C. – David Real Rancourt, 92, of Lewiston, and Greer, S.C., died on Feb. 23, 2022 in South Carolina.
Dave was born in Martinville, Quebec, Canada on April 2, 1929. In the early 1940s his family moved to Rumford where he worked with his father as a lumberjack. He eventually moved to Lewiston where he learned the trade of hand sewing moccasins and shoes.
In 1951 he married the love of his life, Normande “Norma” Turcotte and had five children.
By 1967 he had opened his own shoe factory producing handmade moccasins. Over time, Dave would have a string of successful shoe businesses making shoes for brand names such as Dexter Shoe, Quoddy Moccasin and Cole Haan. His legacy lives on through his training of many hand-sewers in Lewiston/Auburn who continue their craft to this day. He was highly regarded in the hand-sewn shoe industry and provided consultation to shoe factories in the U.S, Mexico, and Brazil.
He raised his family in Lewiston. In his spare time Dave enjoyed playing pool, volleyball, and horseshoes. The in-ground pool at his home on Mary Street served as a center of entertainment for family members, especially for the grandchildren who enjoyed their time with “Memere” and “Pepere”.
After he retired, he spent winters in Florida with Norma where they were active members of their neighborhood HOA. Both served as president and other roles of the HOA. He was known for is generosity helping his neighbors with house repairs and improvements. His children enjoyed traveling to Florida to spend quality time with him and Norma. Several years after Norma passed and in his final years, Dave moved to Florida full time enjoying the company of his loving companion, Joyce Christakis.
Dave is survived by his five children, Diane Rancourt; Mike Rancourt, his wife Debbie and their children Chris and his wife Pamela, Michelle and her husband Steve, and Kyle; Andre Rancourt and his wife Margaret; Anne White and her husband John and their two sons, Corey and his wife Jen, and Garrett; Janet Rancourt Carlander, her husband Paul, and her children Alexandra and her husband Wesley, Ezra and Sara; two great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.
Dave was predeceased by his wife, Norma, who passed on March 17, 2011; his parents Henry and Clara; three brothers, Joseph, Maurice and Marcel and five sisters, Alice Lapointe, Irene Courtemanche, Theresa Pomerleau, Jeanne D’Arc Trepanier and Laurette Rancourt.
A memorial Service will be held in Lewiston, date and time to be determined.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Rancourt family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Alzheimer Association, Maine Chapter,
383 U.S. Route 1 Suite 2C,
Scarborough, ME, 04074
David Real Rancourt