Alvin Menard

Alvin “Al” Joseph Menard, age 98, of Sugar Island, MI passed away on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Evergreen Living Center in St. Ignace, MI.

Al was born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI on March 1, 1924, the son of the late Joseph and Genevieve (Myotte) Menard.  He joined the U.S. Navy before finishing high school and served from March 1943 to January 1946 on the USS Marblehead during WWII.  He participated in Operation Torch which successfully took out German radar just prior to the D-Day invasion.  He was involved with escorting President Roosevelt when he met with the Allied leaders in Malta.  In 2002, he received a high school diploma from the governor of Michigan.  Al was truly part of the “Greatest Generation”.

Al was a great shot who enjoyed hunting and fishing.  He also enjoyed Red Wing hockey and Tiger baseball.  He was the manager of the Soo Indians Hockey Team from the mid 1960’s to early 1970’s.  He was an awesome storyteller, a top-notch mechanic, and his family was everything to him.  Al worked for Great Lakes Dredging and Dock, where he was chief engineer on the Dredge Boston.  He worked as far away as Dubai, UAE. Al was a member of the Sault Tribe, the VFW Post #3676, and had been a Sugar Island Volunteer Firefighter.  He was a member of both Sacred Heart and Holy Angels Church on Sugar Island.  He and Pearl were instrumental in the preservation of Holy Angels which is now a registered historic site.

Al is survived by his children: Sue (Jim) Young, Alvin B. Menard, Fred Menard, and Irene Menard all of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, David (Leona) Menard of Sugar Island, MI, Catherine (Dan) Erickson of Kincheloe, MI, Annette (Don) Smith of Indiana, and Michelle (Mike) Hults of New York; seventeen grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Al was preceded in death by his wife: Pearl (McCoy) Menard, whom he married at Holy Angels Catholic Church on August 17, 1946, with Fr. Joseph Lawless officiating; two children: Terry Menard and Antoinette Menard; three brothers, and four sisters.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 22, 2022, at the Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church with Father Nick Thompson as celebrant.  Friends may gather at the church from 12:00 noon until the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the VFW Post #3676.