Marcel George Seguin

Marcel George Seguin was born on September 17, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan to Francois and Aurore (Filion) Seguin. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada he attended École Saint-Jean-De-Brébeuf graduating in 1942. He also attended the Collège André-Grasset in Montreal. Marcel was both an American and Canadian citizen. As a young boy, Marcel enjoyed hockey, baseball, literature and developed his mischievous streak, teasing his siblings. Marcel married Theresa Lachapelle on August 2, 1947 in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts and to this union two children were born: John and Michele. Marcel and Theresa have made their home in many places around the world including: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Newport News, Virginia, Saint Albans, Vermont, Osaka, Japan, Plattsburg, New York, Poitier, France, Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Rucker, Alabama, Aiken, South Carolina and Elkhorn, Nebraska. Marcel, due to his unusual situation of early childhood, was drafted by both Canada and the United States. He spent 21 years in the United States Army as a paratrooper and a helicopter pilot and did tours during both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After his retirement from the military, Marcel’s second career was as a Test Pilot and later as Chief Test Pilot for the helicopter test air fields in Fort Rucker, Alabama. He was one of the first pilots to test the well known Apache and Blackhawk helicopters. He loved flying. He retired from Sikorsky Aviation Corporation in 1991. Marcel was an intellectual who enjoyed reading, history, classical, big band and jazz music, theatre, opera, organic gardening, stamp and coin collecting, fine dining and wine. After he retired from the Army he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Troy State University in 1969. He was a people person with a warm smile and tendency toward pranks. Once he tied up his grandson’s yard toys high up in a tree. Marcel liked to host parties and would often bring the whole troop home for Theresa to feed during his military career. He even continued this practice throughout his career. He was an activist who, as a union leader until he transitioned to management, wrote the union newsletter. He loved to travel back to his home in Canada to visit his family and did so every year, until 2004. Marcel passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at his home in Elkhorn, Nebraska with his family at his side at the age of 83 years, 7 months and 20 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Francois and Aurore and brother Conrad. Marcel is survived by his wife Theresa; daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Robbie Baxley of Omaha; son and daughter-in-law John and Kathie Seguin of San Diego, CA; 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandsons; and his sister Jeannine Desjardins of Canada.

Marcel George Seguin

September 17, 1924 - May 7, 2008