Mr. Leonard Joseph Mathieu

Leonard Joseph Mathieu passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at the age of 91 years. He was born in Laurium, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula and graduated from the Sacred Heart High School and later attended Michigan Technical University in Houghton, Michigan. He was a veteran of World War II and served in a tank destroyer battalion. An accomplished violinist, he studied under the Concert Master of the Copper Country Symphony Orchestra and played in orchestras in the Upper Peninsula, Cadillac, Michigan and in Palm Beach, Florida as well as some smaller orchestras. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and hunted mule deer and antelope in Montana and Wyoming. He also played hockey as a defense man in a local hockey team in the Upper Peninsula. He retired from the Michigan Dept. of Transportation after 26 years of service as a district office manager covering 13 counties from Cadillac, Michigan in the Lower Peninsula. Prior to this he was a district manager for Montgomery Ward covering 4 states. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus and a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elk. He is survived by his dear wife Gladys of 34 years; a son, Leonard G. Mathieu and wife Linda of Tampa, Fla.; a daughter, Pamela Bridenstein of Lansing, Michigan and a daughter, Mary M. Pitts and husband Eric of Freeland, Michigan. He is also survived by his step-children which include a son, Carlton Patch and wife Eileen of Rockland, Maine; a daughter, Marilyn Arnone and husband, Joseph of Oriental, NC; a daughter, Gayle Kadlik and husband, John of Fitzwilliam, NH; and a son, Stephen Patch and wife, Anne of Boston, Massachusetts; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Rose Mathieu of Laurium, Michigan; his sister, Lucile Eister of Grand Rapids, Michigan; a brother, Harold of Tapiola, Michigan and a brother, William E. Mathieu of Toronto, Canada; as well as a younger brother named William who died at 4 years of age. He will be missed by all of his family and friends who loved him dearly and were loved by him and very blessed to have him in their lives. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Pollock-Best Funeral Home with Rosary to follow at 7:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. Entombment will follow at Greenleaf Memorial Park with military honors rendered by the U.S. Army. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 3005 Country Club Road, New Bern, NC 28562.