THEODORE C. "TED" GROLEAU

THEODORE CLAYTON “TED” GROLEAU, 85, of L’Anse died on Saturday, September 27, 2003 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born on June 6, 1918, in Escanaba, MI., son of the late Oliver and Helen (Brackett) Groleau. Ted graduated from St. Joseph School in 1936. He married the former Shirley M. King of L’Anse on April 21, 1938. Over the next several years, they resided in various locations throughout the country including Escanaba and Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Hawthorne, California. They lived in Las Vegas, Nevada while Ted served as a crew member on a B-29 in the Army Air Corps during World Was II. Following his military service, they resided in Marquette, Michigan, where Ted attended Northern Michigan College and received a B.A. degree in Education in 1950. Following graduation, Ted and Shirley moved to L’Anse where they lived ever since. Ted began teaching at the L’Anse Junior High School in 1950. During his tenure at L.J.H.S. he helped initiate a junior high basketball program, and coached on a volunteer basis. In 1956 he accepted a position with the State of Michigan Department of Corrections as a Probation and Parole Agent in Circuit Court. He continued in this career for 28 years, covering five counties in the Western Upper Peninsula. Ted was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, where he served on the Parish Board as chairman, and also was a lector, catechism teacher, and Eucharistic minister. Civic organizations he gave his time to include the American Legion-William McGlue Post 144 where he served as a commander and chaplain, the L’Anse Lions Club, the Baraga County Memorial Hospital Board, the Baraga County Cancer Society, where he served as chairman, the Baraga County Review Board, and the Baraga County Veterans Association. In connection to their devotion to their son Tim, Ted and Shirley were members of the Adult Retarded Citizens Association of Baraga County. He was one of the founding members of the L’Anse Golf Club and was instrumental in implementing a girls basketball program in the L’Anse Schools during the early 1970s. He was also a member of the L’Anse School Board for many years, serving multiple terms as president. Interest in education continued to be a high priority in Ted’s life. He and Shirley regularly attended sporting events and recently donated an American flag to the L’Anse High School/Public Library. He was preceded in death by two sons, George Howard, and Timothy Clayton; a daughter, Regina Lou; a brother, Howard; and a sister, Katherine. In addition to Shirley, his wife of 65 years, he is survived by three daughters: JoEllyn (Dale) Voice of Cadillac, MI., Mary Kay (Robert) Keefe of Lapeer, and Peggy (Lowell) Elmblad of Ontonagon; six grandchildren: Jared and Nicholas Voice, Abbey and Teddy Keefe, Toby and Tony Elmblad, and adopted grandchildren, Heidi and Trudi Presslein. Other survivors include two nephews: Jerry (Judy) Belanger, and Rick Belanger. A Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, October 2, 2003 at 11:00 A.M. at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse. Father Greg Heikkala will officiate. Burial took place in the L’Anse Evergreen Cemetery. The family received friends on Wednesday, October 1, 2003 at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel from 3-5:00 P.M. and 6-8:00 P.M. A prayer service was held at 4:00 P.M. and a Veteran’s Military Service took place at 7:00 P.M. Visitation also took place one hour prior to the Funeral Mass on Thursday morning. Following the services on Thursday, the family invited friends to join them for fellowship and luncheon at the L’Anse American Legion Post 144. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested donations to the Ted Groleau Scholarship Fund for L’Anse Area Schools. Donations may be sent to the family and envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel. The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Mr. Groleau’s obituary may also be viewed at www.rfsc.net.

THEODORE C. "TED" GROLEAU

June 6, 1918 - October 2, 2003