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Obituary: Joseph Jean Bourgouin

September 8, 1928 ~ November 2, 2022

Joseph Jean Bourgouin, 94, of Sturgeon Bay, died early Wednesday morning, October 26, 2022 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing Center at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay. He is now joined with his wife, Georgianna, who passed away May 24, 2017.

Joe was born September 8, 1928 in Cranston, RI, to parents, Joseph Ernest Bourgouin and Julia Margaret (Gubata) Bourgouin. They moved to New Bedford, MA when Joe was four years old. In, 1937, they moved to Worcester, MA where Joe went to school.

At age 17, he enlisted into service with the United States Navy. Joe served aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Midway, during his time of service in the Navy. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1947. Joe went to aeronautical school in Rhode Island under the GI Bill. He was hired by American Airlines in April of 1952. One September day that year, Joe spotted, Georgiana Gordon (who was attending dental school in California), and he would recall, “It was love at first sight.” They were united in marriage on September 19, 1953 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hawthorne, CA. Joe and Georgiana raised four children: Stephen, Cathy, John, and Holly. He also developed an appreciation for furniture making while working for Pat Patterson in Hawthorne, California. Joe retired as Manager of aircraft mtc operations in Los Angeles, CA. He and Georgiana decided to retire to Sturgeon Bay, WI (where Georgiana was from) in 1994.

While living in Sturgeon Bay, they were active members of St. Joseph Parish – Georgiana sang in the choir, and Joe was one of the regular adult servers for regular Masses and also on funerals. Together with Georgiana, Joe helped replace the kneelers. They truly loved their parish and friends whom they were blessed to know over the years.

While living in California Joe served as President of a traveling golf club in Simi Valley, CA, and upon moving to Sturgeon Bay, enjoyed playing golf with the “Nooners” at Cherry Hills Golf Course, just north of the City of Sturgeon Bay. Throughout his life, Joe liked working on his cars – until everything became computerized.

He was so proud of his family, whom he loved so much: four children, Stephen (Nirma) of Moorpark, CA, Cathy (Mark) Caplan of Oxnard,CA, John (Yael) of Ojai, CA, and Holly (Scott) Roberts of Ventura, CA; four grandchildren, Bridgette and Nolan Bourgouin and Kellie and Brandon Caplan; two sisters, Joanne (Charles) Ducharme and Bernadette “Bunnie” (Louis) Boucher; three sisters-in-law, Mary Gordon, Judy (Lew) Juadis, and Nancy Roberts, all of Sturgeon Bay; other relatives; and dear friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Georgiana, whom he was blessed to share over 63 years of marriage with; grandson, Mikel Kasey Caplan; two sisters, Joanne Ducharme Jannery and Bernadette “Bunny” (Louis) Boucher; and siblings-in-law, Jean (Richard) Derenne, Betty (former husband, Don) Fries, Mary Gordon, and Phillip Roberts; and other relatives.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay with Fr. Robert Stegmann as celebrant. Military Honors by the United States Navy and V.F.W. Post #3088 will follow at Bayside Cemetery in the Town of Sevastopol. Joe will be laid to rest beside his wife, Georgiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.

Memorials may be given in Joe’s name for Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org).

Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Richard Hogan and the staff at Door County Medical Center as well as the staff of Unity Hospice for the wonderful and compassionate care you gave to our dadWe would also like to extend a special ‘thank you’ to Kate Young and Monica Hilbert for all of the help you were to Dad (and our family) over the years.”

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay is assisting the Bourgouin family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joseph may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

Joe leaves saying, “God gave me a great family and a great life. Thank you, GOD!”