Leo Bertrand Bilodeau Jr.

Jacksonville - Leo Bertrand Bilodeau Jr., 80, of Hubert, North Carolina died at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune on Monday, March 17, 2025 with his wife, Linda, and two daughters, Janet and Joyce, at his bedside. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:00PM on March 28, 2025 at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, NC with Military Honors
Bert, as he was known to his friends, was born in Lewiston, Maine on August 27, 1944, to Leo Bertrand Sr. and Jacqueline (Rancourt) Bilodeau. Bert attended catholic schools in Lewiston from primary school at St. Peter's to high school at St. Dominics, graduating in 1964. He was active in sports, playing goalie for St. Dominics, including at the New England championships at the Boston Garden his senior year.
Bert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during his senior year at St. Dominics, continuing a family tradition of serving in the USMC, Bert served two combat tours (26 months) in Vietnam, from 1965 to 1967. Bert was seriously wounded during his first tour, received surgery aboard the hospital ship USS Repose, and returned immediately to combat to complete his tour.
Bert also served in the Philippines, briefly in Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola to quell an uprising threatening American Citizens, MCB Camp Lejeune, as well as Security Force Company (MCSFC), Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and MCSFC Brunswick Naval Air Station, Maine.
Staff Sergeant Bilodeau was awarded the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and others. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps on 19 May 1971, after 8 years of active duty. He attended the University of Maine, Portland-Gorham (now the University of Southern Maine), receiving a degree in Business Management. Concurrently, Bert went to work for a naval defense contractor, Bath Iron Works, in Bath Maine, where for the last decade of his 31-year career there, he was the hazardous materials specialist.
Bert's greatest pride and love was his family. He married Linda Giasson at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lewiston, Maine on February 22, 1969. The newlyweds reported back to MCB Camp Lejeune three days later.
Bert was a passionate outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fly fishing with his wife and daughters, and his life-long friends, Mike and Kathy Simpson of Turner, Maine. Bert had a love of flying, earning his complex/instrument rating, and enjoyed flying Linda and his girls to adventures all over New England. Bert, and Linda, immersed their daughters in the history and wild beauty of their home state of Maine. Bert was the driving force of his close friends' group of fellow anglers and hunters, spending quality time hunting and fishing with "the guys" in the great Maine North Woods.
Bert is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Linda (Giasson) Bilodeau of Hubert; his two treasured daughters, Janet and Paul Vangeli of Lewiston, Maine, and Joyce and Michael Purcell of Loveland, Ohio; three grandchildren: Vincent, Anthony, and Nicole Vangeli; and two great-grandchildren: Mia and Ollie Vangeli-Brooks, all of Maine. Before mentioning the family of his late sister, we must mention how often Bert thought and spoke of his dear sister Paula (Bilodeau) Munn in his last days. Through early sibling squabbles to the joy of sharing their families, Bert loved his younger sister, and we are comforted that Paula will now show him the ropes in Heaven. Bert is additionally survived by his brother-in-law Kenneth Munn of Bradford, VT and Eastham, Cape Cod, Mass; and three nephews, Michael and Christine Munn of Weymouth, Mass, James and Jessica Munn of Fitchburg, Mass, and Philip and Deann Munn of S. Easton, Mass. Bert leaves behind three great-nieces, one great-nephew, and an enormous Bilodeau family of countless cousins, with which he shared many wonderful family moments.
Bert was predeceased in death by his father and mother, Leo Bertrand Bilodeau and Jacqueline Rancourt Billodeau, and his dear sister, G. Paula Munn.
Linda and her daughters wish to thank the medical teams of the Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, the ICU unit, and the 3rd floor medical unit, for their thoughtful and compassionate care, and their all-around excellence.
Bert led a remarkable life, one that Linda, Janet, and Joyce fervently wish could have been many years longer. They will treasure their memories of their husband and father for the rest of their lives.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the Wounded Warriors Regiment aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, or the Invictus Foundation, two organizations that serve veterans with PTSD. https://www.alz.org/ https://www.woundedwarrior.marines.mil/Unit-Home/Charitable-Giving/ https://invictusfoundation.org/donate/