John S. Le Clair, age 89, of Grand Marais, passed away following a brief illness on Saturday evening, November 18, 2006 at his home in Grand Marais. He was born on March 9, 1917 in Jacksonport, Wisconsin to Englebert and Sophie (Propsom) Le Clair. John spent twenty years in the United States Coast Guard in various locations. He retired from the Sault Ste. Marie District in 1959. John spent the remainder of his life in the commercial fishing business in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, then Naubinway, Michigan, and finally to Grand Marais, Michigan. He was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Grand Marais. On November 30, 1940, John married Helen Root at St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. She preceded him in death in April of 1999.
Survivors include his three daughters – Carolyn (Donald) Weber of Marseilles, Illinois, Patricia Sexton of Franklin, Wisconsin, and Janice (Wesson) Hollowell of Hubertus, Wisconsin; four grandchildren – Jeffrey and Jason Weber and Scott and Leigh Hollowell; great-grandchildren – Katherine, Zachary, Lexi, and Audrey Weber; two sisters – Mrs. Mary (Don) Fagerstrom of Chicopee, Massachusetts and Catherine Onan of Jacksonport, WI; three brothers – Joseph (Melda) Le Clair, Richard (Helen) Le Clair all of Jacksonport, Wisconsin, and George (Barbara) Le Clair of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; and special companion – Dorothy Morrison of Grand Marais. John was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Louis, Robert, Gilbert, and son-in-law, William Sexton.
A Mass will be celebrated by Father Paul Karottekunnel on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church in Grand Marais. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Following the Mass, the Alger County Veterans Council will conduct military honors. A Memorial Mass will also be celebrated at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Jacksonport, Wisconsin at a later date.
