Louis R. LaCroix, 68, Stevens Point, the commander of American Legion Post 6 in Stevens Point as well as the Portage County American Legion posts, died Saturday, March 9, 2013, while under the care of his family and Heartland Hospice.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Intercession, with the Rev. Jane Johnson officiating. Burial with full military honors by his fellow honor guard will be in Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Boston Funeral Home and at the church from 10 a.m. Friday until the service. An American Legion Post 6 ritual will be held at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Memorials can be made to the American Legions Post 6 Veteran Assistance Fund.
Condolences may be offered online at www.bostonfuneralhome.net.
Mr. LaCroix was born March 7, 1945, in Fall River, Mass., a son of the late George and Mildred (Stone) LaCroix. His family moved to Somerset, Mass., where he grew up, attended local grade schools and graduated high school.
He joined the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after high school. Following his time with the Marines, he re-enlisted into the U.S. Army on Dec 30, 1965. His service included a tour of duty during the Vietnam Conflict. He earned a Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal and an Army Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged Dec 9, 1968.
He then worked in maintenance with Loyola College in Baltimore, Md. He later moved to Pennsylvania where he did tool and die work with a machining company.
While in Pennsylvania, he met Lorrie Barber. They moved as a couple to Stevens Point in 1999.
He was involved with many local veteran organizations. He was a member of American Legion Post 6 and its honor guard. He was commander of the Portage County American Legion as well as Post 6; a member of the Disabled American Veterans; a board member of Dry Hootch; and was on the board of directors for the American Legion Baseball League. He often assisted others in replacing tattered or torn American flags.
Survivors include his partner, Lorrie Barber; one sister, Cynthia (Maxwell) Millar, Somerset, Mass.; one brother, Robert (Mary) LaCroix, Fall River, Mass.; and 12 grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one sister, Judith Cormier; and one brother, George LaCroix.
