HARLAN FRANCIS RABIDEAU,
91, of Gagetown died Thursday, August 13, 2020, in Lockwood of Waterford. He was just two-and-half weeks short of his 92nd birthday. Harlan was born August 30, 1928 in Gagetown, to Raymond and Lena (LaPratt) Rabideau. Harlan married Phyllis Barcome September 16, 1950. They were married for 60 years. She died July 14, 2010. They shared a very blessed life raising six children in Waterford, Michigan.
Harlan left Gagetown in 1944 at the age of 16 and moved to Pontiac. He sailed the Great Lakes with the Merchant Marines, enlisted in the US Army Corps of Engineers and served during the Korean War. One of his duties with the Corps of Engineers was extending the runway at Williams Airforce Base in Mesa, AZ.
Harlan and Phyllis owned and operated Triple H. Collision in Auburn Hills. They retired in 1985 and spent their summers on the farm in Gagetown and winters in Arizona. Harlan was a man with strong faith. He loved life and had energy like no other. His humor and laugh were infectious. Harlan’s passion was restoring tractors and classic automobiles, some of which included a 1931 Model A, 1948 GMC Pickup, a 1974 Chevy Caprice Classic convertible, a 1964 Ford T-Bird hardtop, and a 2004 Ford T-Bird convertible. In his last years, he began restoring a 1928 Model T. He participated in numerous parades with his collection of tractors and cars (Thumb area, Woodward Cruise, Clawson Car Show). You would often find Harlan playing Euchre at a local card club or having a few Crown Royals while entertaining family, friends and his beloved cat named Sue in his pole barn.
Being one of the founding members of the Auburn Hills Optimist Club. Harlan was very involved for many years in keeping the Clinton River debris free from downed trees and overgrown brush so that the river could be canoed. The Auburn Hills Optimist Club, on their city map, named a section of the Clinton River (Rabideau Rapids) after Harlan because of his extraordinary energy in keeping a section of the rapids open with his chainsaw. Harlan believed in giving back to church and community and was a member of the following organizations: Our Lady Consolata Parish, St. Agatha Catholic Church of Gagetown; Our Lady of Lakes Catholic Church of Waterford Township; American Legion – Auburn Hills & Clarkston (founding member), Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks USA ,Waterford Township; Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce; Knights of Columbus of Clarkston; Thumb Octagon Barn of Gagetown; Optimist Club of Auburn Hills (founding member).
Harlan is survived by his children: Paul (Lee) Rabideau; Tim (Kelly) Rabideau; Cheri (Paul) Hoefelmeyer; Teresa (Bill Rice) Bitti; Lynette (Mike) Gray; Lisa (Brad) Fillion; eleven grandchildren: Emily (Rick) Rector, Rachel (Michael) Oleksiak, Zachary (Ellen) Rabideau, Jeremy (Kasondra) Rabideau, Joel (Maria) Rabideau, Katie (Tim) Chiappelli, Jason Rabideau, Karlie Hoefelmeyer, Ian (Ashley) Hoefelmeyer, Caresse (Derek) Breen, Tabitha (Richard) Lang; eleven great-grandchildren: Ryan, Gracie, Addison, Ashlyn, Chase, Hailey, Tyler, Gracy, Jordan, Joannah, Wyatt; sisters-in-law: Nancy Rabideau; Sharon Barcome; brothers-in-law: Gary (Barbara) Barcome, David (Chris) Barcome. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Phyllis; son, Randy Rabideau; brothers: Gerald Rabideau, James Rabideau, Keith Rabiduau; sister, Jean Marecki; father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Eva Barcome; sisters-in-law: Evelyn Rabideau, Norma Rabideau; Barbara (Jack) Whitehead; brothers-in-law: Clarence Marecki, William (Mary) Barcome, Ed Barcome, Robert Barcome.
Graveside service will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 11 a.m. in St. Agatha Cemetery, Gagetown with Fr. Theo Nnabugo officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Agatha Cemetery Fund (OLC/perpetual). Friends may share memories, prayers and photos with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. In accordance with the current state mandate regarding COVID-19, attendees are also kindly reminded to wear a mask or other facial covering while at graveside. Please feel free to bring a lawn chair.
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
989-872-2195
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91, of Gagetown died Thursday, August 13, 2020, in Lockwood of Waterford. He was just two-and-half weeks short of his 92nd birthday. Harlan was born August 30, 1928 in Gagetown, to Raymond and Lena (LaPratt) Rabideau. Harlan married Phyllis Barcome September 16, 1950. They were married for 60 years. She died July 14, 2010. They shared a very blessed life raising six children in Waterford, Michigan.
Harlan left Gagetown in 1944 at the age of 16 and moved to Pontiac. He sailed the Great Lakes with the Merchant Marines, enlisted in the US Army Corps of Engineers and served during the Korean War. One of his duties with the Corps of Engineers was extending the runway at Williams Airforce Base in Mesa, AZ.
Harlan and Phyllis owned and operated Triple H. Collision in Auburn Hills. They retired in 1985 and spent their summers on the farm in Gagetown and winters in Arizona. Harlan was a man with strong faith. He loved life and had energy like no other. His humor and laugh were infectious. Harlan’s passion was restoring tractors and classic automobiles, some of which included a 1931 Model A, 1948 GMC Pickup, a 1974 Chevy Caprice Classic convertible, a 1964 Ford T-Bird hardtop, and a 2004 Ford T-Bird convertible. In his last years, he began restoring a 1928 Model T. He participated in numerous parades with his collection of tractors and cars (Thumb area, Woodward Cruise, Clawson Car Show). You would often find Harlan playing Euchre at a local card club or having a few Crown Royals while entertaining family, friends and his beloved cat named Sue in his pole barn.
Being one of the founding members of the Auburn Hills Optimist Club. Harlan was very involved for many years in keeping the Clinton River debris free from downed trees and overgrown brush so that the river could be canoed. The Auburn Hills Optimist Club, on their city map, named a section of the Clinton River (Rabideau Rapids) after Harlan because of his extraordinary energy in keeping a section of the rapids open with his chainsaw. Harlan believed in giving back to church and community and was a member of the following organizations: Our Lady Consolata Parish, St. Agatha Catholic Church of Gagetown; Our Lady of Lakes Catholic Church of Waterford Township; American Legion – Auburn Hills & Clarkston (founding member), Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks USA ,Waterford Township; Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce; Knights of Columbus of Clarkston; Thumb Octagon Barn of Gagetown; Optimist Club of Auburn Hills (founding member).
Harlan is survived by his children: Paul (Lee) Rabideau; Tim (Kelly) Rabideau; Cheri (Paul) Hoefelmeyer; Teresa (Bill Rice) Bitti; Lynette (Mike) Gray; Lisa (Brad) Fillion; eleven grandchildren: Emily (Rick) Rector, Rachel (Michael) Oleksiak, Zachary (Ellen) Rabideau, Jeremy (Kasondra) Rabideau, Joel (Maria) Rabideau, Katie (Tim) Chiappelli, Jason Rabideau, Karlie Hoefelmeyer, Ian (Ashley) Hoefelmeyer, Caresse (Derek) Breen, Tabitha (Richard) Lang; eleven great-grandchildren: Ryan, Gracie, Addison, Ashlyn, Chase, Hailey, Tyler, Gracy, Jordan, Joannah, Wyatt; sisters-in-law: Nancy Rabideau; Sharon Barcome; brothers-in-law: Gary (Barbara) Barcome, David (Chris) Barcome. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Phyllis; son, Randy Rabideau; brothers: Gerald Rabideau, James Rabideau, Keith Rabiduau; sister, Jean Marecki; father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Eva Barcome; sisters-in-law: Evelyn Rabideau, Norma Rabideau; Barbara (Jack) Whitehead; brothers-in-law: Clarence Marecki, William (Mary) Barcome, Ed Barcome, Robert Barcome.
Graveside service will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 11 a.m. in St. Agatha Cemetery, Gagetown with Fr. Theo Nnabugo officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Agatha Cemetery Fund (OLC/perpetual). Friends may share memories, prayers and photos with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. In accordance with the current state mandate regarding COVID-19, attendees are also kindly reminded to wear a mask or other facial covering while at graveside. Please feel free to bring a lawn chair.
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
989-872-2195
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