Rodney Trahan Sr.

1928 - 2012

Rodney Joseph Trahan, Sr.

RAYNE - Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. for Rodney Joseph Trahan, Sr., 84, who passed away peacefully Monday, December 10, 2012 in Lafayette General Medical Center Hospital surrounded by his family.

Interment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery #2, Rayne, LA 70578.

Surviving are his wife, Janice Lejeune Trahan of Rayne, three daughters, Ava Kiker and husband Mike of Concord, NC, Dana Sturis and husband Bill of Mire, Claire T. Meche and husband J.D. of Crowley; two sons, Rodney Joseph Trahan, Jr. and wife Helen of Kannapolis, NC, Nicholas C. Trahan and wife Lori of Lafayette; eleven grandchildren, Michael, Laura Jean, Kip, Kristen, Ian, Hannah, Avery, Ella, Kate, Lila, Camille; godchild, Sherman Trahan and wife Geraldine of Rayne; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents, Belizaire Trahan and Claudia Credeur Boullion, step-father, Lenis Bouillion.

He was born Sunday, February 5, 1928 on the family farm in rural Rayne, LA and resided there until his passing. Son of the late Belizaire Trahan and the late Claudia Creduer Boullion.

Eager to serve his country, he joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served until the end of World War II.

In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until 1967.

He was an artilleryman and served in the 82nd Airborne Division, the 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, and the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded Parachute and Glider wings upon completion of jump school in Fort Benning, GA in August 1947. His overseas assignments include: Korea, Japan and Panama. He was a Master Parachutist and wore that badge proudly. He also served as a "Black Hat" Airborne School instructor with the 101st jump school at Ft. Campbell, KY from February 1956 to June 1958. Rodney served during three wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, because "It was my duty to preserve the American way for future generations."

Rodney was an excellent athlete all of his life. He was a member of the Rayne, LA football team when they won the State Championship for their high school class in 1944. He was a boxer and ran track too. He continued his athletic career on active duty and was on the Ft. Bragg, N.C. football team and boxed in the Army. He was a coach to the athletic department of the U.S. Military Academy while he was assigned to West Point Military Academy.

He taught at Rayne High School, University of Southwestern Louisiana and Mire Elementary and later was a member of the Acadia Parish School Board for 12 years. He was an educator at heart.

He was very active in Post 77 of the American Legion in Rayne, LA and was the Americanism Chairman for many years. He organized and conducted the American Legion Oratorical Contest for the Rayne Post for many years and was at many of the elementary and high schools in Acadia Parish to speak on Veterans Day and to represent the American Legion in presenting awards to the students. He was an inspiration to many young people in pursuing a military career.

He was a proud paratrooper, veteran, educator, father and true American Patriot.

A rosary will be recited Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Gossen Funeral Home.

Friends will be received at Gossen Funeral Home, Inc., Rayne, LA. Wednesday, December 12, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. and Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m..

The Trahan family would like to thank Mire Volunteer Firemen, Lafayette General Medical Center's Emergency Department, ICU and LHC Group's LTAC for being so attentive and compassionate toward him.

Friends may view the obituary and guestbook online at www.gossenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Gossen Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayne, LA, (337) 334-3141.