John Paul Goudreau, Sr

John Paul Goudreau, Sr., 80, passed away unexpectedly on May 16, 2022 at the Mackinac Straights Hospital in St. Ignace, MI.

Jack as he was known, was born March 26, 1942 to John R. & Thelma Goudreau in St. Ignace, MI. He attended Ursaline Academy and graduated from LaSalle High School in 1960. Jack went on to attend college at Michigan Tech, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. While attending college he met his future wife Helen Kolehmainen and was married soon after graduation. He then enlisted in the Army as an officer and was stationed in Karlsruhe Germany for two years. After the army Jack found a career at the Ansul Fire Protection company and settled in Menominee, MI, where he and Helen raised their two children John Jr. and Michelle. Jack’s job in sales for Ansul had him traveling all over the globe throughout his entire career. He was later transferred to Dallas, TX working for parent company Wormald. He spent five years there, then transferred back to the Menominee, MI area.

Soon after moving back Jack lost his wife Helen. He retired from Ansul in 2000 and moved to his cabin in Black River near Naubinway, MI. A few years later his sisters set him up on a date with his childhood crush, Aquita (McGraw/Soblaskey). They married in 2007 and together enjoyed traveling the Caribbean and being snowbirds in Florida.

He enjoyed partridge hunting his entire life, was an avid boater, an expert Cribbage player and most of all he enjoyed his family and teaching his grandsons the rights and wrongs of the U.P. lifestyle. He was an Elder of the Sault Ste Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians and a member of the American Legion.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John R. & Thelma, brother Ricky, and his first wife Helen.
Jack is survived by his son, John, Jr. (Elizabeth), and their two sons John III “Jack” and Will, daughter Michelle Helgesen (Jeffery) and his sons Adam (Mandy)and Josh (Geralyn); his wife Aquita Goudreau and her daughters Julie Stegmeyer (Fred), Cindy Hanson, and son James Soblaskey. Sisters Mollie (Bob) Boynton,and Ruth Possanza. Also survived by many grandchildren and nieces & nephews who all adored the heck of him and will really miss his sense of humor.

Please join us for breakfast brunch at the Driftwood Restaurant downtown St. Ignace from 9:00am – 11:00am on Wednesday May 25, 2022 before the visitation.

Visitation will be Wednesday May 25, 2022 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm at Galer Dodson Funeral Home, 240 McCann Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. Funeral service will begin at 2:00pm at Galer Dodson Funeral Home with Father Frank Ricca officiating. Final resting place will be Epoufette Cemetery.

The family requests memorial contributions be made in Johns name to Freedom for Patriots, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, & Motor City Possum Rescue.

Freedom for Patriots
https://www.freedomforpatriots.org/donation/
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html
Motor City Possum Rescue
PayPal.me/Gruss8@msn.com
Venmo: @Cynthia-Russ-4

Galer Dodson Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

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