Leon Louis "Frenchy" Bourgeois

1928 - 2016

Bourgeois, Leon Louis "Frenchy"
Leon Louis "Frenchy" Bourgeois 88, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away 3/11/2016. "Frenchy" was born in Dayton, MN on 1/20/28, to Peter and Leah Bourgeois. After his graduation from De La Salle High School in Minneapolis, MN he served his country in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War. He was a member of B.P.O.E. and RUPA. He began working at the age of 14. He was employed as a street car conductor, a control tower operator, and a postman. He was hired as a pilot by United Airlines in 1956. Captain Bourgeois retired from United Airlines in 1988. He was active at United Airlines in helping pilots who were on medical leave return to their jobs by providing support during weekly luncheons at his home. His love of flying and community service led him to volunteer himself and his private plane to Mission Aviation Fellowship. He flew dentists and doctors to Mexico where he assisted the dentist and provided donated medical supplies and testament to the villagers. He was also involved with Helping Hands, an organization that provides quadriplegics with trained service monkeys (he transported the monkeys and socialized one monkey at home). He was also involved with ferrying human organs in his private plane. He enjoyed flying his private plane and his children and grandchildren were treated to many fun trips. His son, Larry, inherited his love of flying and became an accomplished private pilot. Their shared love of flying saw them flying coast to coast in antique and modern private aircraft. He was blessed with two loving women in his life, Millie Bourgeois (deceased Dec 4, 2008) and Joan Dwyer Bourgeois. He was a wonderful grandfather and great grandfather known as "Papa". He is survived by his wife Joan, his daughter LeeAnn Blunt and her partner Ronald Paulson, his son Larry Bourgeois and daughter-in-law Lisa, his grandchildren Kristi Larentowicz and her husband Jeff Larentowicz, Kenneth Blunt, Keri Blunt and her partner Stephen Lease, his great grandchildren, Joe, Ben and Sam Bourgeois and Sebastien Larentowicz, his step-daughter Eileen Danko and her husband Howard and their children Katherine and Benjamin, his step-son Kevin and his wife Cathy and their children Christopher, Caitlin and William, his step- daughter Ann and her husband Brock and their children Alan, Amanda and Andrea, his brothers Arthur Bourgeois and wife Carol, Ronald Bourgeois and wife Joanne and Marvin Bourgeois and wife Phyliss. Memorial Service: March 26, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., Cross in the Desert United Methodist Church, 12835 N 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85032. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 ATTN: Fund Development. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com to place online condolences.