Lester Champagne

Lester "Les" Champagne, 84, a resident of Manor Care in Kingsford, died Saturday, October 29, 2011at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain. Les was born December 27, 1926, in Brooks, MN, son of the late William and Regina (Dagenais) Champagne. He married Donna Lefebvre on April 8, 1948, in Oklee, Minn and she preceded him in death on February 14, 2008. Les was employed at Grede Foundry as a maintenance supervisor for many years, retiring in 1988. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Niagara. Les was always willing to help family or friends and he could fix almost anything. He was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and enjoyed making various crafts and attending craft shows. Most of all, Les enjoyed spending time with his family. He is survived by eight children, Terrence (Sandie) Champagne of Muskego, Wis., Wayne Champagne of Kingsford, Sandra TenEyck of Denver, Colo., Lori (Robin) Bargo of Iron Mountain, Scott (Judy) Champagne of Ephrata, Pa., Kathy (Jim) Anderson of Marinette, Wis., Karen Champagne of Indianapolis, Ind. and Jody (Paula) Champagne of Iron Mountain; 18 grandchildren, Matthew Champagne and Janette (Matthew) Wenzel, Tara Champagne, Kristy Ferrin, Karla Thompson, Angela (Michael) Adam, Jennifer (Nathan) Raiche, Lindsey Bargo, William and Robert Champagne, Dylan Sensenig, Christopher and Daniel Anderson, Amy (Michael) Lippert, Ashley Faulk, Rachel Luokkala, Amanda Harlock, and Jordan Champagne; 13 great-grandchildren, Hannah Wenzel, Nicholas Thompson, Michelle Bargo, Logan and Landon Adam, Kolbe, Jozef, Marcel, Jerzy & Gemma Raiche, and Gary, Elijah & Ella Faulk; two brothers, Rupert Champagne of Sacramento, CA and Harold (Mona) Champagne of New Berlin, WI; two sisters, Rachel Teloh of Racine, WI and Joyce (Roy) Thiebert of Mentor, MN; three sisters-in-law, Carol (Lee) Hagelee of Edina, Minn., Marilyn (Donovan) Stonouse of Thief River Falls, Minn. and Eileen (Mark) Walsh of North St. Paul, Minn.; a brother-in-law, Michael (Peggy) Lefebvre of Henderson, Nev.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Parish prayers will be recited on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kingsford. Fr. Michael Woempner will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Homestead-Aurora Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in his memory. Pallbearers will be Daniel Anderson, Matthew Champagne, Mike Lippert, Nathan Raiche, Mike Adam, and William Champagne. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Les Champagne online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Lester Champagne

October 29, 1927 - October 29, 2011