ESCANABA - Kenneth A. Beaudoin, 82, of 1617 S. 16th St., Escanaba, passed away Thursday afternoon, June 28, 2012, at the St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba surrounded by his loving family following a brief illness.
Ken was born Feb. 9, 1930, in Escanaba the son of Amede Joseph and Marie (LaPointe) Beaudoin. He was raised in Escanaba where he attended St. Anne Catholic Grade School and graduated from the Escanaba High School in 1947. Following graduation, Ken attended the Cloverland Business School in Escanaba.
Ken served his country in the U.S. Navy and Reserves from 1947-1951. In 1951, during the Korean Conflict, Ken joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea until 1953. Following his honorable discharge, he was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Medals, and the United Nations Service Medal.
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Kenneth A. Beaudoin
He returned to Escanaba and was employment at the Red Owl Store Grocery. Ken married the former Joyce L. LeRoux at All Saints Church in Gladstone on Aug. 6, 1955. They made their home in Escanaba where they raised their four children. Ken was employed with the U.S. Postal Service from 1962 until his retirement in 1992.
Ken was a very active member of the St. Anne's Catholic Church in Escanaba where he was an usher and also served as president on the St. Anne School Board. Ken's hobbies included hunting, fishing, gardening, and watching the Packers. He also enjoyed spending time at his beautiful cottage in Stonington. Ken was a loyal member with his friend's bi-monthly Poker Club for 50 years.
In addition to his loving wife Joyce, Ken is survived by: daughter, Beth (William) Noreus of Escanaba, Mich.; three sons, David (Leona) Beaudoin of Bark River, Mich.,
Jim (Roni) Beaudoin of Escanaba, Mich., and Michael (Kristen) Beaudoin of Evanston, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Anna Noreus, Andre, Arie, Arissa, Danielle, Heather, Emma and Jacob Beaudoin; two sisters, Elayne Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., Jacqueline (Allan, "Pete") Zoellick of Brookfield, Wis.; one sister-in-law, Elaine Beaudoin of Pulaski, Wis.; numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, three brothers preceded Ken in death, Robert, William, and Raymond Beaudoin; brother-in-law, Warren Smith; sister-in-law, Chris Beaudoin.
Ken's family will receive friends on Monday, July 2, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Skradski Family Funeral Home in Escanaba. Mass of Christian Burial services will follow at 6 p.m. at the St. Anne's Church in Escanaba with Rev. Fr. Fran DeGroot, Rev. Fr. Gill Neurohr, and Rev. Fr. Emmett Norden officiating. Luncheon will follow in the St. Anne Parish Hall. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Escanaba. Memorial contributions in memory of Ken may be directed to St. Anne's Building Fund. Envelopes will be available at the Skradski Family Funeral Home and St. Anne Catholic Church. Please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com where you can express your sympathy to the Beaudoin family, or to leave a memory tribute about Ken.
