Bernard "Bernie" Laurion's Obituary
Bernard J. "Bernie" Laurion, 88, of Camanche, died Friday, March 1, 2019, at Eagle Point Nursing Home.
A Funeral Mass will be 10:30am Friday, March 8, 2019 at the Church of the Visitation – Camanche. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery with military honors being conducted by the United States Army. Serving as pallbearers will be grandchildren, and serving as honorary pallbearers will be great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Camanche Chapel, Snell-Zornig Funeral Home and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m at the church.
He was born Jan. 24, 1931, in Washburn, Wis., to Edward J. and Jessie (Lamerande) Laurion. He married Joyce D. Powers, July 2, 1949, in Junction City, KS. They celebrated 70 years of marriage. He served in the U.S. Army and National Guard from 1949 to 1954.
He was employed with E.I. DuPont in finishing, then maintenance and later in the Power House, retiring in 1985 after 35 years of service.
Following retirement, Bernie and Joyce settled for 25 years in Apache Junction, AZ., at the Lost Dutchman Resort, which they eventually managed for 5 years before returning to live in Camanche.
He was a member of the Church of the Visitation in Camanche, the Knights of Columbus and the Moose Lodge. He enjoyed traveling, having visited all 50 states and Canada. Not one to sit around, he was always busy puttering around the house and his garage. He spent 17 years as an "unpaid" helping hand on his son, Richard's, farm north of Clinton. He enjoyed square dancing, camping, fishing, golfing, boating and reading westerns.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Camanche; one daughter, Valerie (Wesley) Michaelsen of Clinton; four sons, Bruce (Sue) Laurion of Brandon, FL., Richard (Becky) of Camanche and Spring Hill, FL., Dale (Lynn Todtz) Laurion of Clinton, and Randall (Suzon) Laurion of Clinton, MO; 10 grandchildren, Erinn Garrels of DeWitt, Ryan (Kristy) Larkin of Clinton, Jason (Donna) Laurion of Valrico, FL., Matthew Laurion of Brandon, FL., Shelby (Toby) Lester of Land of Lakes, FL., Master Sgt. Travis (Angie) Laurion of Yuma, AZ., Andrea Laurion of Spring Hill, FL., Levi (Jessica) Laurion of Clinton, Ashley (Robert) Striegel of Jacksonville, FL., and Yvonne (Tyler) Harvey of Sacramento, CA.; one sister, Dorothy Bourgo of Redmond, OR., and 21 great-grandchildren and his faithful Schnauzer, Pepper.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Marie Willis, two brothers, Ervin and Jerry Laurion and one great-grandson, Jackson Rhys Laurion.
Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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