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As received from the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel:
Joseph Adlore Chaudier of L’Anse died peacefully on Friday, March 25 after a seven month battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. Joe is survived by his loving wife, Doris, three daughters; Kelly Chaudier, Kim (Scott) Swanson, and Karrie (Aaron) Gaffney, eight grandchildren; Kyle and Alex Vuorinen, Autumn, Madissen, and Natalie Swanson, Ella, Jack, and Joseph Gaffney, and three brothers John (Jackie) Chaudier, David (Jean) Chaudier, and Bill Chaudier. Joe was preceded in death by his parents John and Gladys Chaudier and six siblings; Dennis Chaudier, Durwyn Chaudier, Marlene Young, Mary Richard, Tom Chaudier, and Fred Chaudier.
Joe was born on August 26, 1941 and raised in L’Anse, Michigan. After high school Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served his country for four years. After leaving the Air Force, Joe married his sister Mary’s best friend, Doris Niemela. Joe and Doris were happily married for 56 years. Joe received certificates from Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University in HVAC and CAD. He spent several years working as a draftsman for General Motors in the Detroit area before returning to L’Anse with his wife and daughters. For 28 years he worked in the maintenance department of the L’Anse Area Hospital while building the L’Anse Mobile Home Park near his family’s property. Joe also spent ten years sitting on the Manufactured Housing Commission representing small mobile home parks in the State of Michigan.
In his retirement Joe enjoyed spending time fishing at the house he built on the Falls River, spending time with his family and friends, traveling, watching the Tigers, reading non-fiction history books, fixing washers and dryers, and remodeling mobile homes. For the past several winters Joe and Doris enjoyed being snowbirds in Florida. Joe had an amazing ability to fix almost anything and took great pleasure in discovering how things worked. He believed in being a life-long learner, and that through reading and persistence, anything was possible. Beyond that, Joe was an amazing story teller and could captivate his family and friends for hours on end with tales of his childhood.
More than anything, Joe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His most prized possessions were his three daughters and eight grandchildren. He never missed an opportunity to help with projects around their homes, attend a grandchild’s event, or give a tractor or four-wheeler ride to anyone who asked.
While Joe will be greatly missed, he will live on in the memories of all that knew him, spent time learning from him, and had the opportunity to listen to his stories.
The family is planning a private gathering this summer where they will celebrate a life well lived. The family asks that anyone wishing to make a memorial donation do so in Joe’s name to either Baragaland Senior Citizen Center at 6 N. Main St, L’Anse, MI 49946 or Omega House at 2211 Maureen Lane, Houghton, MI 49931.
Joe’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the f family at www.reidfuneralservicechapel.com
The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse has been entrusted with the arrangements.
