Paul William Beauvais

Paul William Beauvais, 86, died Thursday, June 13, 2024, surrounded by his family at his home in East Jordan. 

He was born on May 19, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Paul Joseph and Helen Louise (Godfrey) Beauvais. 

He graduated from Western High School in Detroit, Michigan in 1957.

Paul married Patricia Anne Young on December 27, 1958, at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Detroit.

In 1972, he moved his family to East Jordan from Dearborn Heights.

He had worked as an audio-visual technician/stage set designer at Chadsey High School in Detroit, a truck driver for the Otsego County of Public Works, and a movie projectionist for several local Northern Michigan movie theaters and drive-ins. He retired as a press operator for East Jordan Tool & Die, and a school bus driver for East Jordan Public Schools.  He drove buss #5, the bunny bus. 

Paul loved spending time with his family. He loved history and participated in living history reenactments such as Civil War Reenacting with the Loomis Battery Club and French Indian War Reenacting with the Jordan River Sportsman’s Club. He was the past president of the Jordan River Sportsman’s Club for many years.  Paul was also a Hunter Safety instructor with the Jordan River Sportsman’s Club for several years. 

Paul was very talented at drawing and woodworking. He enjoyed hunting, muzzle loading, fishing with the grandkids, and camping. He always looked forward to deer camp with the guys. The Detroit Tigers were his favorite and he enjoyed watching them as much as possible. You could always find him reading a book at the kitchen table or sitting on the front porch smoking his pipe filled with Vanilla Cavendish or Free Cuban Cigars.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia Anne Beauvais of East Jordan; four children, Paul Michael (Anne) Beauvais of East Jordan, David Joseph (Colleen) Beauvais of East Jordan, Laura Marie Massey of Boyne City, Michele Lee (Ken) Paulson of Canadian Lakes, 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Gerald Beauvais of Detroit, and several nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Beauvais; sister, Virginia Barrett; sister, Catherine Jakinovich; son-in-law, John Massey; granddaughter, Lynette Beauvais; great-granddaughter, Hazel Whitley; and great-grandson, Mayson Paulson. 

Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 12:00 Noon at St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Jordan.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan.

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