Francis "Bud" Francoeur

The angels came to take Francis "Bud" Francoeur, 81, home on Friday (Sept. 11, 2009), on his sister Odora's birthday who awaits him in heaven. Visitation will be at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais today, Sept. 14, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Kankakee. Burial will be at All Saints Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made for Masses, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Bud was born in Beaverville, the youngest of five to Meddie and Jeannette (Besse) Francoeur on Sept. 13, 1927. Bud was raised in Kankakee and was a lifelong member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Bud married Alice Branz, the love of his life, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Sept. 28, 1952. Bud was a member of the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Texas and Washington. He worked for Jaffe Men's Clothing, A.O.Smith, co-owned Mr. Bud's Restaurant with his wife, Alice; and was a car salesman with Ed McBroom's, Jerry Fox and Tom O'Brien Lincoln Mercury. Bud scheduled and drove auction trips for Napleton's Auto Werks. He also volunteered for The Salvation Army, Provena St. Mary's Hospital and Riverside Medical Center. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Bud is survived by his wife, Alice; three daughters and one son, Kris (Ed) Stahler of Odell, Denise (Doug) St. Pierre, Kim (Mark) Dykstra, all of Kankakee, and Marc Francoeur of Los Angeles, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, Keri (Will) Grob, Lori (Eric) Gerth, Jeremy (Jill) St. Pierre, Robert (Kay) Stahler, Ryan (Elisha) Stahler, Jessica St. Pierre (Ryan Kruse), Andrea (Chris) Wulff, and Joshua, Jared and Arielle Dykstra; 10 great-grandchildren with number 11 due to arrive in October; one sister, Gertrude Brenneisen of Kankakee; two brothers-in-law, Norman Patnaude of Michigan, John Langman of Nevada; three sisters-in-law, Donna Patnaude of Michigan, Debra Branz of Kankakee, Margo Nourie of Tennessee; many nieces and nephews and special friends, Jack and Barb Stearns of Florida, Shirley and Wes Shadowen of Kankakee, and traveling buddies, Chuck and Carol Jackson of Bourbonnais. Preceding him in death were his parents; and sisters, Viola Havens, Odora Davis and Stella LaFond. Bud devoted his life to his wife, family and friends. In addition, Bud also had a love for cars, the Cubs, collecting baseball caps and beer steins, and especially playing Texas Hold'em with his grandchildren. He will be missed by all and will always remain in his family and friend's hearts with special memories for being the most caring and loving husband, dad, grandpa and friend.

Francis "Bud" Francoeur

September 13, 1927 - September 11, 2009