Obituary of Gerald Raymond Goudreau

Gerald Raymond Goudreau March 11, 1946 ~ April 16, 2015 Gerald Raymond Goudreau was born 03/11/1946 in Fitchburg MA to Raymond and Jean (Krapf) Goudreau. He fought a valiant fight with recently diagnosed Pancreatic cancer and passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, 04/16/2015 at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver WA, at the age of 69. Gerry graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1964 after participating in both football and basketball. He loved to ski in New England and Europe and ultimately moved to Vail, CO in 1969. In the winter, he would ski and work on the trail crews and in the summer he developed his Journeyman carpenter skills that he continued to use throughout his life. After a slight mishap in Vail of tumbling down the run win his green parka, the nickname “Green Tomato” stuck for years. Gerry married Kathy Nevius in 1972. Their daughter, Lucy was born in Denver, CO in 1975. In 1977, they moved to the Flathead Valley of Montana, making their home in Columbia Falls, MT. Their son, Jeff was born in 1978 in Whitefish, MT. Gerry continued to work as a carpenter for the next 30 years, honing his skills as a finish carpenter. He was well known for his exceptional skills that are apparent in many homes and commercial projects that he worked on. While living in Montana, he always greatly enjoyed his many hunting excursions. Any game or fowl was not safe when he, his friends and Jeff were on the hunt. He was very involved and excelled with competitive shooting, both pistol and archery, as well as trap shooting. He always looked forward to his annual pig hunting trips to Texas. In 2001, Gerry married Vonne Stroisch in Kalispell MT and moved to Vancouver WA soon thereafter. They made their home in Battle Ground WA where he maintained a beautiful lawn and awesome garden. His favorite ‘girls’, his dogs, Sugar and Lacy were always with him and will miss him tremendously. He learned to fish for salmon & steelhead in the Columbia River making many dear friends over the years. The “Goudreau B&B” was a popular place each September for the fall salmon run. Company came from all over to fish with the “Godfather of the River”. He especially enjoyed having his grandsons with him to fish. They came every summer from Montana to spend time with Grandpa. They all have wonderful memories of their fishing adventures. Gerry was preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts & uncles. He is survived by his wife, Vonne at the family home. Daughter, Lucy Dodson (Troy Williams) and grandsons, Kaden Bradley and Austin & Wyatt Dodson; his son, Jeff (Lindsay) Goudreau and grandchildren, Cove & Greta, all of Columbia Falls, MT. Step-Daughters, Theresa Stroisch (Kevin Dingle), Durham NC and Shauna Stroisch, Sacramento CA and Step-Granddaugher, Jenna Gudgin, Seattle WA. He is also survived by two sisters, Susan (Jerry) Kalagher and Joyce Goudreau, all of Massachusetts and his former wife, Kathy Lockhart, Kalispell, MT. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to his favorite cause, CCA (SW Washington Coastal Conservation Association) http://www.ccawashington.org/donate or a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at the family home in Battle Ground, on Tuesday, 04/21/2015, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Please bring a pot-luck dish to share. AND be sure to bring along your best Gerry story! Call 360-666-1714 for directions if needed. Rest in peace Sweet Man – You will always be missed and loved more than words can express.