Rene John Choquette

CHOQUETTE COPPLE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 21:21:58

Woodbury County History 1984

Rene and Eleanor (Copple) Choquette
By Eleanor Choquette

Rene John Choquette, son of Albert Choquette and Antonia (Bernard) Choquette, was born at Jefferson, South Dakota, on March 8, 1913.

Eleanor Alma Copple, the youngest of the twelve children of Ells Copple and Ada (Edwards) Copple was born at Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, on August 15, 1920.

Rene and Eleanor were married by the Reverend Joseph T Finnigan, of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Salix, Iowa on July 6, 1939.

The first year of their marriage they lived with Rene’s parents on a farm south of Salix; then they moved into their first home in Sloan. Rene worked as a John Deere mechanic for Norbert Juneman at Juneman’s Hardware in Sloan. During this time their first children were born: Renee Marian in 1940, and Ramon Philip in 1941.

In 1943, they moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Rene worked at the Glen L Martin Bomber Plant, building B-26 and B-29 planes for World War II. Their daughter, Karen Marie was born in 1943 in Omaha, Nebraska. As the war ended they returned to the farm south of Salix, Iowa, renting from Albert ‘Ching’ Jauron, as Rene’s folks had retired. Their two sons, Mark Francis in 1946 and David Paul in 1948, were born while they made their home there.

This farm was completely inundated during the Missouri River flood of 1952. Rene, Eleanor and the children were taken into the home of Rene’s cousin, Raymond Duhaime, just one mile north. It was also necessary to move all livestock and feed. After two weeks and two days, and with the help of Raymond Duhaime and another neighbor, Clifford Watkins, the house and the farm buildings were ready for the family’s return.

All five children attended St Joseph’s Catholic School in Salix. As the local Board of Education denied the Parochial school students transportation on the Public school buses, the parents in this neighborhood rallied ‘round. Together they purchased a bus and made a deal with Mr Arthur Chicoine to take over the bus and the route, with each family paying a set fee, per child. This puts a real strain on many budgets as farmer prices were so low, but through sacrifice and determination the project was a real success. Renee, Ramon and Karen all graduated from St Joseph’s High School in Salix, with Karen as a member of the last graduating class in 1960. After this time the St Joseph School maintained only eight grades, with the High School students attending Heelan or the public school. Sons, Mark and David, transferred to the public school, Westwood of Slaon, and both graduated from there.

In March of 1958, they moved two miles north, onto the Tom Archer farm, where Mr and Mrs Omar Topf had resided for the past twenty-two years. There they continued to farm for thirteen years, until Rene’s retirement, when they moved into Salix on November 7, 1976.

After graduation from high school, daughter, Renee, was employed at the Sloan State Bank until her marriage on September 3, 1959, in St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Salix, to William Michael Beacom of Salix. Renee and Bill had eight children: William Joseph, Jeanne Marie, Rene John, Laura Renee, Mary Christine, Carolyn Beth, Rachel Ann and Michael Andrew. The eldest, ‘Billy Joe’, drowned in the Missouri River on May 9, 1979 while working on a river barge for the Brent Towing Company. He is buried in St Joseph’s Cemetry at Salix.

Son, Ramon, joined the US Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, for the entire four years of service, working in Security and Confidential. He married Joan VanCleave, daughter of Clayton ‘Jack’ and Jean VanCleave of Salix, on June 17, 1961, at St Joseph’s Church in Salix. Their first home was in Vista, California, until his discharge from the Service on November 22, 1963. Their first sons, Philip Ramon and Vance Michael, were born during their time in California. They then returend to Salix, Iowa, where they added three more sons to their family: Anthony Alan, , Eric Jay and Jason Jermey. Ramon is employed by Iowa Public Service Company. They have built a new home on the southwest corner of Aspen and Travis Streets in Salix.

Daughter, Karen, was employed by Drs. Stauch, McBride and Boysen in Sioux City, until her marriage to Floyd Wyatt on March 14, 1963, in Washington, DC. They had four children: Ann Marie, Randal Floyd, Alan Charles and Sandra Jean. Ann-Marie married Randolph Scott Posey; they have two children, Rodney Scott and Karen Elizabeth.

Son, Mark, also joined the US Marine Corps for four years, serving two years in Vietnam, earning numerous awards and citations. After his return from Vietnam he married Marlene Swan, daughter of Glen and Grace Swan of Sloan. They lived in San Diego until his discharge from the Service, when they returned to Salix. In 1975, they moved to their new home in the country, southwest of Sloan, near the site of the early settlement of Albaton. They have three children, Martin John, Chad Michael and Michelle.

Son, David, joined the US Air Force on July 18, 1967, and has made it his career. He married Linda Loisel, daughter of Alcide and Donna Loisel of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, on November 16, 1968 at McGuire, AFB, New Jersey. They have four children: Paul Ramon, William, John, Joshua David and Nicole Michelle. They are living in Germany during his three-year tour of ovrseas duty.

Rene was always an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting on the Missouri Bottoms. He also trained horses, and with his sons claimed many trophies at the horse shows in the three-state area. He was an excellent mechanic and gunsmith, having made a number of guns for family members and friends.

When weather prevented Eleanor from working in her yard and garden, she crocheted and knitted many, many gifts for the family. Her latest accomplishment was a book of poetry, ‘Memories in Rhyme’ as a legacy for her heirs.