Clifford H. “Chip” Deneau, age 75, of 7550 26th Road; Rapid River (Masonville Twp.) died Monday morning, October 17th, 2005, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor where he was a patient for the previous 60 days.
Chip was born February 11th, 1930 in Masonville, the son of Edward and Myrtle (Laraby) Deneau and was a lifelong Masonville area resident.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1952 with the occupation of Germany, he returned to Delta County and later married the former Patricia J. Posenke January 30th, 1945 in Gladstone.
In his early working years, Chip was employed for Stone Anderson Lumber in Rapid River, McGillis and Gibbs in Gladstone, and later for Harnischfeger Corp. in Escanaba. After working for the Birdseye Veneer Co. in Escanaba, he began his 20 year employment for the Delta County Road Commission, retiring in 1992 as a grader operator.
Chip loved wood-working in his leisure, and had also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling. In addition his yard-work was also of importance and pride to him. He especially like to take time with his manicured lawn and well trimmed trees. His family furthermore remembers him as liking country and western music and canning. More importantly, they fondly remember him as a man of a friendly nature, a person willing to help anyone, and as a man with a “soft heart”.
Having been a veteran of the U.S. Army, Chip was a member of the Rapid River American Legion Walter W. Cole Post #301.
In addition to his wife of 51 years, “Pat”, Chip Deneau’s survivors include:
2 Sons- Harland (Lynn) Deneau of Gladstone; Gary (Cathie) Deneau of Masonville
2 Daughters- Cheryl (Larry) Boden of Masonville; Carol “Squeek” (Mike Hillman) Deneau of Masonville
7 Granchildren- Audrey Deneau, Christina Boden, Jennifer Nault, Jeremey Dickerson, Adam Boden, Nicholas Deneau and Michelle Denkins
6 great-grandchildren
Several nieces and nephews.
Chip was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers; Harvey, Lawrence, Phillip, Walter, Benjamin, and George Deneau, and by two sisters; Isabelle Froberg, and Violet Belongie.
The family of Clifford H. “Chip” Deneau will receive friends on Friday at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Services celebrating Chip’s life will follow on Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home with Rev. Joanne Bartelt of the Memorial United Methodist Church officiating. Luncheon will follow services at the Gladstone August Mattson American Legion Post #71. Entombment will be in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery; Wells.
