James Duane Duquette

A celebration of life is at Hovie Funeral Home on Feb. 10, 2018. It begins with a visitation at 10 a.m., then the American Legion Honor Guard service at noon, and a Masonic service to follow.

Mr. Duquette was born May 20, 1934 in Manistique, Mich. to Henry and Pearl Duquette. He married his bride of over 50 years, Sharon Sleeper, in 1958 and they moved their young family to Sault Sainte Marie in 1964.

While not a native son of Sault Sainte Marie, Jim Duquette worked tirelessly to serve his community. His work in these years represent his four loves: country, family, hockey, and golf. After serving in the United States Army for three years, he went on to serve for 50 years as a past master and life member of the Masonic Lodge and was a former commander of the American Legion Post 3, also serving in their Honor Guard.

Mr. Duquette was past president of the Sault Amateur Hockey Association and was general manager of the Sault Junior B Indians, building a rich hockey legacy in Sault Sainte Marie and instilling a love of the game in his son, daughter, and grandchildren. He worked with Fred Day to launch the city’s baseball league, and served as a city commissioner. He also served for over 40 years as a Lake Superior State University Lakers Hockey Team off-ice official, and served on the Salmon Derby Committee. It was also Mr. Duquette’s work in the community as a founding member of the I-500 Parking Committee that helped ensure the success of this key city event today.

Mr. Duquette enjoyed over 20 years of retirement, spending countless days on local golf courses and at Smith Lake, volunteering with his wife at First Baptist Church, making pasties down at the Legion, and visiting with family. His life was as rich and full as his best story and his impact on Sault Sainte Marie is wide felt.

Mr. Duquette is survived by his sister, Betty Lasich; his brother, John Duquette; his son, William Duquette; his daughter, Diane Duquette; his granddaughter, Nicole Duquette; his grandson and his spouse, Brent and Kim Duquette; his great-grandson, Brayden Duquette; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Celia Pawley, Dorothy Tellinger, and Lois Gregrash; his brothers, Leon Duquette, William Duquette, Donald Duquette, and Richard Duquette; son-in-law Mark Horn; and his loving wife, Sharon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to EUP Hospice or the Pullar Stadium Manny Bourcher building fund.