Laconia-----Fernand "Jerry" Lacroix, 85, died on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at the Belknap County Nursing Home.
Jerry was born in Laconia on November 12, 1931, the son of Albert W. and Grace Eva (Morin) Lacroix. He lived most of his life in Gilford, with short stays in Portsmouth, Belmont and Laconia.
Jerry was an accomplished two sport athlete. His play as a guard on the basketball court earned him a spot on the state’s All State Tournament Team in 1950. On the baseball diamond, Jerry was a starting catcher and a clean-up hitter. His outstanding defense and .423 batting average led Belmont High School to its first Stare Championship when he was a senior. In 2014 Belmont High School honored him by inducting him into their Sports Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Belmont High School in 1950, he had a tryout at Fenway Park with the Philadelphia Phillies and received a letter to report to Spring Training the following year. However, by that time he had followed in his family’s tradition of serving his country during time of war; he had already enlisted in the Army.
Jerry joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and served until 1953. He served during the Korean War and was a squad leader and platoon sergeant in the 2nd Infantry Division and took part in battles at “Heartbreak Ridge” and “Old Baldy”. He received many awards, including the Combat Infantry Badge and the Korean Service Ribbon, including three Bronze Battle Stars. After returning home, he joined the N.H. National Guard in 1955 and served for ten years, reaching the rank of 1st Lt. He was a member of the American Legion Post #58 in Belmont.
As an adult Jerry enjoyed bowling, golf, carpentry and farming. He was especially happy taking care of his beef cattle, sheep and pigs on their mini-farm in Gilford that had been in the family since it was built in 1819.
He worked at Scott and Williams in Laconia for 21 years and retired from Aavid Engineering after 17 years. Jerry was a member of the Gilford Community Church and Gilford Thompson-Ames Historical Society.
Jerry is pre-deceased by his brothers Maurice, Robert, and Russell Lacroix, his sisters Bertha Morin and Cecille Henry, and three nieces, Doreen Wright, Sylvia Swift Susan Fairbank and nephews Scott Swomstead and Gary Bernier.
His family includes his loving wife of 50 years, Kathryn (Fournier) Lacroix of Gilford, two daughters, Catherine M. Rice and her husband Craig, and Karen D. Christian and her husband Ray Sandman, two grandsons, Jerry C. and Travis C. Christian, all of Mesa, Arizona, also a brother-in-law Ray Fournier and his wife Kathleen of Concord and their son, Michael Fournier and his wife Rebecca.
Besides loving his two daughters, their husbands, and his grandsons, he dearly loved his nephews, Russell Lacroix and his wife Christine, David Lacroix and wife Michelle ,and his nieces Mary Lacroix and husband Chris Gilb, Anne Riesenburg and husband Tom, Elaine Jones and husband Wayne, Andrea Lacroix, Sue Sargent and her husband Dick, Joe Day and his wife Mary, and their extended family of great and great, great nieces and nephews. He enjoyed hosting annual family cookouts for many years. His family was most important and they were there to support him during his final years.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford NH on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will follow in the Raymond C. Wixon Memorial Garden, Gilford NH. A gathering will follow downstairs in the Church’s Fellowship Hall to which friends and family are invited.
Memorial donations may be made to the Central NH VNA & Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette & Cremation Service, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.