Bruce Paquette

Bruce was born on January 14th, 1937 at St Mary’s Hospital in Marquette, MI, the current location of the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans, to Emil and Mary (Novak) Paquette, the youngest son of three children.

Bruce attended Graveraet High School and met Jean Diane Trudeau, ‘the love of his life’ while in the 10th grade. He joined the US Air Force in 1954 and was stationed in New Mexico, Korea and later at KI Sawyer AFB in Gwinn, serving as an airplane mechanic. Their long-distance romance consisted of many letters written over the course of his service.

On September 14, 1957, they married at St Louis the King Church in Harvey and enjoyed 64 years of marriage until Jean’s death in November, 2021.

Bruce and Jean moved to East Chicago, Indiana in 1960, as Bruce became a merchant mariner working for Inland Steel Co on the Great Lakes for 28 years.

They had four children from 1958 until 1964: Joseph Alan, Curt Lee, Vicki Lynn and Paula Kay while Bruce continued sailing. In 1976, they returned to their roots and moved the family back to Marquette, MI, building their dream home in Harvey.

Bruce attended night classes when he was on hiatus from his sailing and by correspondence courses while he sailed, obtaining his GED from Marquette Senior High School in 1982. Coincidently, that was the same year that daughter Paula graduated from there. They were featured in an article written for the Mining Journal, ‘Dad and Daughter Earn Diplomas.’

After retiring from sailing, Bruce worked at the First National Bank of Marquette in the maintenance department for about 10 years. Afterward, he was a bus driver for Marquette Public Schools for many years.

Bruce loved camping, fishing, traveling with Jean, NMU hockey games and especially, playing cribbage. He also enjoyed baking his favorites, meat pie and pasties and even took culinary arts classes at NMU to add to his kitchen experience. He was an active member at St Louis the King Church in Harvey and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed helping with their fund raisers, selling raffle tickets and tootsie rolls at local stores and pancake breakfasts. His life long faithfulness to the Catholic Church was a very important part of his life.

Bruce is survived by his son Joseph (Toni Moberg) Paquette of Kingman, AZ, daughters, Vicki (Gary âMicã) Jordens and Paula (Mike Wipfli) Paquette, both of Marquette, grandchildren James (Allison Moon) Whitlow of FL, Heather (Michael) Mattson of Marquette, Tony (Mimi Gentry) Paquette of Seattle, WA, Joshua (Christopher) Tryan-Hernandez of Milwaukee, WI, Garrett Paquette and Andy Tryan, both of Ishpeming, MI along with eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by in-laws, Robert (Helen) Belanger of FL, Jerry (Sandy) Trudeau of NV, Sharon (Earl âButchã) Carlson of Skandia, Darlene Frazier, John (Phyllis) Trudeau III, Randy (Barbara) Trudeau and Betty Belanger, all of Marquette & Harvey.

Bruce was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Diane (Trudeau) Paquette, his parents, Mary and Emil Paquette, brothers, Emil Paquette Jr and Richard Paquette, son, Curt Paquette, son-in-law, Gary (Mic) Jordens, in-laws, Adele and John Trudeau II and brother-in-laws Arthur (Jack) Belanger and William (Mickey) Frazier.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St Louis the King Church in Harvey on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 11am. Visitation will take place beforehand from 10am ­ 11am. A luncheon will follow the Mass in the church hall. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Marquette at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette and the Chocolay Senior Center in Harvey.

Bruce’s family would like to give heartfelt thanks to the staff at the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, Mill Creek Assisted Living and UPHS-Marquette for the exceptional care given to him over the last few months.

Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.

Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com.