Paul H Menard

MENARD LAMOUREUX FORTIN BERGERON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/6/2010 at 22:55:55

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Paul H Menard
By Frances (Menard) Stoneking

Paul H Menard was born in Herscher, Illinois, in 1894, the first-born son of George N and Maria Lamoureux Menard. He moved from his birthplace in 1902 with his parents, his sisters Georgette and Prudence, and brothers Mark and Joel, to Salix, Iowa, where his father had bought an extensive parcel of land. They set up a homestead in Liberty Township, midway between Sergeant Bluff and Salix. Two other children, Florence and George, were born to his parents, completing a family of seven children, all of whom lived to maturity.

Paul spent his childhood on the farm. He received his elementary education form St Joseph’s Catholic School in Salix, and was graduated form Sergeant Bluff High School, which at that time went only to the junior year. He then graduated form Central High in Sioux City. HE attended St Viateur’s College in Kankakee, Illinois. Among his classmates while there was the renowned Bishop Fulton J Sheen, widely known as a write and speaker. Bishop Sheen kept friendly contact with Paul over the years.

After completing his education, Paul returned to the land, making farming his lifetime career. He owned and operated 320 acres, and rented extensive additional land, engaging in both crop raising and cattle feeding.

In 1921 Paul married Genevieve M Fortin, daughter of Sophia (Bergeron) and Phillip Fortin of Sioux City. Mr Fortin was a commission man with the Sioux City stockyards. He and his wife and their families had originated from the same area of Illinois (basically Kankakee County) where the Menard family had its roots. Kankakee County had at that time the second highest concentration of French descent people in North America, second only to Quebec, Canada, so it is not surprising both families had the same background, as did other families of French descent in the Salix area.

Paul and Genevieve were married June 11, 1921 in St Jean Baptiste Catholic Church in Sioux City where they exchanged their vows in French. Both had learned to speak French as children, and were bi-lingual to a great extent. They had three children: Gloria, born June 13, 1922, Frances born August 2, 1924, and Paul F born March 9, 1928. All were members of the St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Salix. The children attended public school in Sergeant Bluff, so they had allegiance to both communities. Gloria and Frances attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City and Paul attended Iowa State at Ames.

Gloria married Eugene Riccardi in Denver on October 29, 1945. Their children are Carolyn, Eugene, II (Geno), Philip, Nancy and Genevieve (Gena). Carolyn is now Mrs Mike Rawls, and her children are: Kristy, age 13; Wesley, age six; and Amanda, age six months. They make their home in Gillette, Wyoming. The other Riccardi children are not married. They made their home in and around the Denver area.

Frances graduated from Briar Cliff College in 1946 and taught high school four years. She married Allen Stoneking of Schleswig on June 3, 1950 at St Joseph’s Church in Salix. They make their home in Schleswig. Allen is top man on the kill floor at IBP in Denison, Iowa.

Their children are: Michele, born May 31, 1952; Denise, born February 1, 1954; and Seana, born May 17, 1956. Michele married Steven Strack of Primghar, Iowa, on June 10, 1972 in Omaha, where both were employed. They now make their home in LaVista, Nebraska. Their children are: Travis, age 10; and Tiffani, age 7.

Denise married Capt R Thomas Bright of Muenster, Texas, on July 23, 1983 at El Toro Marine Base in California. Tom is a career Marine. Seana works for Ramada, Inc, in Omaha, and presently is unmarried.

Paul married Gertrude Oliver on June 23, 1954, in St Joseph, Missouri. Their children are Patricia, Mark, William, Paul Ann, and Larry. Patty married Michael Felker and has one daughter, Kimberly, age five. The other Menard children are not married. Paul and his family make their home in Savannah, Missouri.

Paul and Genevieve retired form farming in 1951 and sold their farm, moving to Sioux City. They later moved to South Sioux City, where they lived for twelve years. In 1977, they moved to Savannah, Missouri, to be closer to members of the family, and to be in warmer climate during their declining years. Paul died October 25, 1980 after a brief illness, and Genevieve died February 5, 1981, also after only a brief illness. They are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City.