The widow of a La Ronge business owner killed in what police are calling a homicide is taking solace knowing her late husband’s organs will be saving six lives.

Cora Laich tells CTV News her late husband Simon Grant’s lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreatic islets are being donated.

“That’s brought my daughter and I a lot of strength. It’s great to know he’ll live on in other people," she said.

Grant died in hospital Monday morning, less than 48 hours after RCMP responded to an armed robbery at his restaurant, Louisiana’s Bar B Que, and found him seriously injured.

The call came in to police just before 11 p.m. Saturday, Mounties said in a media release. Investigators believe masked men entered the restaurant and assaulted Grant before fleeing the scene with cash.

The 64-year-old was taken to La Ronge Hospital before he was airlifted to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where he died. The death is considered a homicide, according to RCMP.

His widow says he was a prominent business owner in the town. He moved to the community in 2003 and at one point owned 11 different businesses, Laich said.

Opening Louisiana’s Bar B Que in 2014 fulfilled a lifelong dream for Grant, others in La Ronge told CTV.

He was outgoing, well-liked and well-known, they said. He was a face of the community.

“He made other people happy and that’s what he enjoyed. I’m sure going to miss that,” friend Archie Adam said.

“Everyone knew who he was,” Kate Young, one of Grant’s employees, shared. “He was a staple of the town, honestly. Everyone only had good things to say about him.”

His favourite saying was simple, according to Laich: “I feel good. I feel fine. I feel wonderful.”

He lit up any room, she said.

“If we were on holidays and there were eight people in the elevator, he’d have them all smiling.”

Grant told Laich himself he wanted to donate his organs, she said. Her late husband was scheduled to enter the Royal University Hospital’s operating room for his organs to be donated Tuesday afternoon, she posted on Facebook.

RCMP major crimes officers are leading the investigation into his death alongside the coroner’s office and police from Prince Albert and Tisdale.

A vigil for Grant is planned for Saturday.

--- based on a report by Rebekah Lesko