Winooski, VT - Joseph Robert Bourgeois, 75, a longtime resident of Winooski died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, June 24, 2010, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington following a long illness.
Joe was born in Burlington, VT on November 4, 1934, the son of Edouard and Orinda (Duhamel) Bourgeois, and was educated at Burlington schools.
He served his country with the United States Air Force, Airman 1st Class and was last stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Joe was married in Winooski at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on August 9, 1958, to Therese M. (Thibault) Bourgeois.
He was formerly employed at Zum Lapointe’s Texaco Station in Winooski, and retired from IBM after 27 years of employment. After retirement he kept busy part-time working for Maynards Auto Supply now currently Car Quest.
Joe joined the Winooski Fire Department in 1962, and was with the department until his retirement in 1989 after six years as Chief of the Winooski Fire Department. The meeting room at the Winooski Fire Department was dedicated in his honor upon his retirement. He received the Fire Chief of the Year Award from the City of Winooski, and numerous recognitions throughout the City of Winooski, Chittenden County, State of Vermont, and Canada. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation in special recognition and highest praise for alertness, personal courage and ever efficient guardianship of life and property Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Joe was a member of St. Jean Baptiste, and was an associate member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1767.
He enjoyed carpentry, woodworking, and building furniture for his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed nature and hunting, and was very involved with genealogy.
Joe is survived by his wife of 51 years, Therese Bourgeois; six children, Francine Kirby and husband Jim Kirby Jr. and their daughter, Tanya, Jerome Bourgeois and his son, Anthony, Gabrielle Burbo and husband Tony and their children, Britany, Anthony, and Bethany, Patrice Bourgeois and wife Cindy and their son, Andrew, Colette LaChance and husband David and their children, Chris, Greg, Michael, Brigitte, and Matthew, and Jean Pierre Bourgeois and wife Maria and their children, Jordan, Michael, Meghann, and Joshua; three great-grandchildren, Tanner Bourgeois, Ethan Coates, and Hayliee Careau.
Joe is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Leonel Bourgeois, Rita Bessette, Yvonne Cross, Armand Bourgeois and wife Marie, Jeannette Troescher and husband Walter, and Arthur Bourgeois and wife Claudia; sister in-law Rose Bourgeois; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He was predeceased by his twin sons Francois & Francis, his sister and brothers, Beatrice Gallagher, Ernest Bourgeois Sr., Emile Bourgeois, Harry Bourgeois; sister in-laws Margaret, Jeanne and Janice Bourgeois; brother in-laws Armand Cross, Rudolph and Robert Bessette.
Special thanks to PACE Vermont, Home Instead Senior Care, Bruce Schrack, and anyone else involved in his care.
Visiting hours will be on Monday, June 28, 2010 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St. in Winooski. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winooski. Interment will follow at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery with military honors being accorded Mr. Bourgeois by the Vermont National Guard. Full honors and the Final Alarm will also be accorded Chief Bourgeois by Chief David Bergeron and the Winooski Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Winooski Firefighters Association, 27 West Allen Street, Winooski, VT 05404, or to the American Parkinson Disease Assoc., Vermont Chapter, 1 So. Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401, or to the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 422, Burlington, VT 05402.
