WALTER W. "PUNK" DES LAURIER's Obituary
WALTER W. “PUNK” DES LAURIER, 82, of Aura, passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Following a brief illness. He was born in Pequaming, MI. on October 21, 1925 the son of the late Walter and Mildred (Pettersen) DesLaurier. Walter attended school in L’Anse and proudly graduated in 2004. He served his country in the United States Navy during WWII. Walter worked at Celotex for 13 years he was then employed as a sawyer in the logging industry until his retirement in 1984. Walter married the former Ruth Salo on November 12, 1949 and she preceded him in death in April of 2002. On July 3, 2004 Walter married Barbara (Nakkula) Mars. He was a member of the L’Anse VFW Post #3897. Walter enjoyed mowing the lawn, raising farm animals, deer hunting, working in his vegetable garden, watching the Green Bay Packers, and playing with his dog “Rags.” His greatest joy was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Mr. DesLaurier is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, children, Mary (Robert) Chenoweth of Aura, Jerry (Lisa) DesLaurier of Aura, David and Birgit of L’Anse, Christa (Rusty) of Calumet, and Michael (Kathy) of L’Anse, grandchildren, Rob, Kerry, Kimberly (Dave), Ryan, Stephanie (Ray), Jonathon, James, Sarah, Jeffery, and Devan, great-grandchildren, Ashley, Brian, and Madison, and sister, Isabelle (Carlo) Heikkinen of Pequaming. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Funeral services for Mr. Des Laurier were held at 7 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2008 at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse with Pastor Scott Williams officiating. Spring interment will take place in the Pequaming Cemetery. The family received friends at the funeral chapel on Friday from 5 p.m. until the time of the funeral service. Military honors for Mr. DesLaurier were conducted Friday evening at 6 p.m. under the direction of the Baraga American Legion Post 444. Following the services the family invited friends to join them for fellowship and refreshments in the Harrington Gathering room, located at the funeral home. The family has entrusted the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse with arrangements
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