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Christian Allan Julian Groleau

Christian Allan Julian Groleau

BRAMPTON — Christian Allan Julian Groleau, 24, of Brampton, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at home.

He was born on Oct. 30, 1995, in Holland, Mich., son of James P. and Charlotte L. (Villeneuve). When Christian was an infant, the family returned to the U.P. where his parents were raised and currently reside in Gladstone. Christian graduated from Gladstone High School with National Honors in 2014. He was attending college at Central Michigan University on the dean’s list and studied exercise kinesiology, planning on pursuing a career in physical therapy.

Christian grew up loving his sports and outdoors playing on several little league All-Star teams and travel baseball and basketball teams. He loved all of his sport families. While attending Gladstone High School, he participated in football, basketball and excelled at baseball. He earned all-district and all regional honors as a pitcher. His summers were spent playing baseball for the Gladstone Indians American Legion Baseball Team, winning a Class A state championship in his final game.

Christian was passionate about racing and his racing family. He raced micro sprints at the Upper Peninsula International Raceway. He was a great competitor and always had the support of his dad on his pit crew, his mom, and family in the stands cheering him on as he loved the challenge of racing against his papa Jim. Christian was a three-time track champion at the UPIR track and also raced sport trucks for two years at the Norway Speedway earning a track championship driving for H & H Racing of Green Bay, Wis.

Christian also enjoyed hunting at Tuskan’s Camp Whitetail with his dad, adopted grandpas Lloyd Tuskan and Bill Shine and the rest of the hunting family. He cherished and looked forward to camp gatherings where the boys loved play slapjack and poker, watching sports and enjoying one another’s laughter.

Among survivors are his parents, James and Charlotte Groleau of Gladstone; ­sisters, Morgan Mae (Jared ­Harris) of Neenah, Wis., and Clarissa Rose (Tehya Mattson), who is currently ­attending college at Central University in Mount Pleasant, Mich.; grandmother, Nancy (Gilbert) Villeneuve Pierce; papa Jim and grandma Deb Groleau; and his #1 racing fan, great-grandma Muriel “Sis” Bruntjens; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandpa, Allan Villeneuve; grandma, Carlene Groleau; great-grandmother, Mae Groleau; ­great-grandfathers, Morris Bruntjens and Wilfred Groleau; and his childhood dog, Maggie Mae.

Visitation will be on Monday, Feb. 3, from 1 to 4:45 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home, 302 S. 13th St., Escanaba. At 4:45 p.m. there will be a message of remembrance. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 6 p.m. at All Saint’s Church with Rev. Jamie Ziminski officiating. A meal will follow in the church hall.

A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting crawfordfuneralhomes.net.