This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: FORTIER, BEDARD, RUCZYNSKI, FEZZEY Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/IFB.2ACE/1064 Message Board Post: FORTIER, Joseph A. Of Portage, MI Formerly of Alpena Passed away on June 12, 2004 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Joseph was born on March 30, 1920 in Alpena, MI the son of John and Mary (Bedard) Fortier. He married Virginia Ruczynski on January 20, 1948. Joseph worked as an Electrician for Besser Manufacturing, retiring in 1982. He was one of the Founders of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Alpena, where he generously gave his time, talents and treasures. He loved baseball and played on the Indian Reserve league for several years. He and his wife moved to Portage, MI in 1996. He was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church. Joseph loved to hunt. He was of great service to his church, family and neighbors. He was mechanically inclined and loved to fix things and to help others. He is preceded in death by several sisters and brothers. Joseph is survived by his wife, Virginia to whom he was married for 56 years and their two daughters, Sandy Fortier of Kalamazoo, MI and Nancy (John) Fezzey of Carmel, IN; and se! veral nieces and nephews. Family and friends will be received on Monday, June 14, 2004 from 10-11 a.m. at St. Monica Catholic Church, 541 W. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, MI where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. Fr. Larry Farrell Celebrant. Interment will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 in Holy Cross Cemetery, Alpena, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to Children's Wish Foundation. Arrangements by: REDMOND FUNERAL HOME 4100 S. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (269) 343-6156 Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 6/13/2004. (Posted by a volunteer-no family connection)