Croteau Family Genealogy

Famous Croteau Relatives:

I have listed a few of the more prominent Croteau relatives who have made a mark in the world in their particular manner.  If you know of any Croteau's that you would like featured here, please let me know.  I'm sure there are many more family members we are all proud of.

Quebec Premier Rene Levesque	The Dionne Quintuplets
Engineer/Lawyer Jean Baptiste Leon Croteau	Doctor (Professor) John Tougas Croteau
Professor Rodney B. Croteau	Professor Arsene Francois Xavier Croteau - Centenarian
Ramsey Crotteau - Dawson Lumber Company	Professor James M Croteau - Psychologist
Staff Sergeant Donald Conrad Crotteau	Sister Marie Croteau - Centenarian

Premier Rene LEVESQUE Family;

Premier of Quebec, Rene LEVESQUE (b: 1922 d: 1987) appears in my family line.  We are 8th cousin through the common ancestor of Andre BERGERON (b: 1643 d: 1712) whom married on the 9 Jul 1673, Marguerite DEMERS (b: 1659 d: 1725). Mr. Rene LEVESQUE was born August 24, 1922. He was a broadcast journalist who entered politics in 1960 as a member of Quebec's Liberal Party. In 1967, he helped found the Sovereignty Movement which later became the Parti Quebecois (PQ) in 1968. He was elected Premier of Quebec in 1976, and resigned in 1985. He died November 1, 1987.

The Olivia & Elzire DIONNE Quintuplets;

The Dionne Quintuplets are my 3rd cousin's once removed. Emilie, Yvonne, Annette, Cecile & Marie DIONNE all were born: 28 May 1934 in Corbeil, Ontario, Canada.  The common ancestor is Charles Antoine BOISVERT (b: 1800) whom married Aurelie Henriette RITCHMAN (b: 1809 d: 1870).  Multiple births were very uncommon in the early days and giving birth to 5 children at the same time was rather unique.  These young ladies were exploited and put on show by the Province of Ontario and their family doctor when they were born.  I believe 2 are still living in Montreal Quebec at this time. The City of North Bay has an excellent web site on the Dionne Family and of course it is non profit!  They have some decent newsprint and photographs from the museum.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Two Brothers;

Jean Baptist Leon Croteau born 06 June 1887 in Brockton, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, died 5 Feb 1970 in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. We are7th Cousins, once removed. A veteran of WW I in 1917 went on to become a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a civil engineer before becoming a lawyer.  Not happy with one degree he went on to become a graduate of the University of Maine and North-Eastern University.  He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in graphology, the analyzing of handwriting.  He and his wife, Hilma C Stedt b: 1892 are buried in the Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, Worcester, MA, USA.

John Tougas Croteau (Doctorate) born 10 March 1910 in Holbrook, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA, also lived in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, died 19 July 2007 at South Bend, Indiana, USA. We are 7th Cousins, once removed.

He was educated in Worchester, MA, earning his AB (1931) at Holy Cross College and his master's (1932) and doctorate (1935) in economics from Clark University. Respected by colleagues and students alike, he was awarded honorary doctorates for his distinguished service in the credit union and cooperative movements by St. Joseph's University (1956), the University of Prince Edward Island (1976), and the University of Moncton (1976), all located in Canada.

He began his career in 1933 as Carnegie Chair of Economics and Sociology at Prince Wales College and St. Dunstan's College, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI). During the next 12 years he also served as director of adult education programs, manager of the credit union league as well as the PEI Cooperative Union, and executive secretary of the Adult Education League. For his tireless labour on behalf of working families, he became known in Canada as "The Apostle of the Cooperative Movement."

In 1938 the Prince Edward Island Credit Union League was formed. Dr. John T. Croteau was the first managing director and its mandate was to arrange promotional and educational meetings, distribute supplies and advise the offices. Dr. Croteau explained to the groups that a Credit Union was a co-operative credit society - a "baby bank" organized among a group of people and empowered by law to receive deposits and to make loans to the members of this group. Bank credit was scarce in the 1930's and so the idea of setting up community banks to make credit available to hard pressed farmers struck a popular note.  In 1942, the League joined CUNA, Credit Union National Association, an organization based in Wisconsin and formed in 1934 to spread the Credit Union idea. John went, like his brother, continued with his education and in 1970 obtained his doctorate at Notre Dam University, South Bend, St. Joseph, Indiana, USA.

Arsene F.X. Croteau - Centenarian & Fairfield University Professor, Connecticut USA

Arsene Francois Xavier Croteau born 4 July 1891 in Saint Nicholas de Levis, Quebec, Canada.  We are 6th Cousins twice removed. He and his wife Augustine Gelinas moved to the USA about 1892, first to Mansfield City, Connecticut, USA where he started as a college teacher according to the 1930 US Census.  Information from the death certificate reports he was a retired professor from Fairfield University, Connecticut, USA when he died at age 100 on 2 Sep 1990. Fairfield University is first and foremost a Catholic and Jesuit University.

Distinguished Faculty or Administrator Award
Given to a member of the faculty or administration for exemplary service in the education of Fairfield University students.  Mr. Arsene Croteau received this award in 1975 .

New Article 2001: Laura A. Donohue of Dommerston, Vermont USA, a member of Fairfield University's Class of 2004, was recently awarded the Arsene Croteau Family Scholarship to study French. The scholarship was established to honour Professor Arsene Croteau who taught French at Fairfield for many years and is given each year to an outstanding student in French.

* * * 

Professor Dr. James M Croteau, Western Michigan University, USA

Professor Dr. James M Croteau born in Tennessee, USA is the grandson to Arsene Francois Xavier Croteau.  We are 8th Cousins once removed.  He is a Professor in the Department of Counsellor Education and Counselling Psychology at Western Michigan University. He received his doctoral and masters' degrees in Counselling Psychology from Southern Illinois University. Jim is a fellow of Division 17 (Society of Counselling Psychology) and Division 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues) of the American Psychological Association (APA).

His practice, scholarship and professional training specialties include lesbian, gay and bisexual issues and issues of race and racism in White Americans. His main areas of teaching include basic counselling skills, developmental theory, vocational psychology, and lesbian, gay and bisexual concerns. He has organized or edited two special journal issues and published more than 40 journal articles and book chapters. Jim has served on editorial boards for the Journal of Counselling and Development, the Journal of Vocational Behaviour, and The Counselling Psychologist. In 2003, he received the Outstanding Achievement Award from APA's Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns. He was lead editor and author of multiple chapters in the 2005 book entitled Deconstructing Heterosexism in the Counselling Professions: A Narrative Approach.

Dawson Lumber Company - Libby, Montana, USA

Ramsey B Crotteau born 15 April 1868 in Sherry, Wood County, Wisconsin, USA married Bertha Bartch born 1870 in Nasonville, Wisconsin, USA. He died at age 46, 27 Jun 1914 in San Diego, California, USA and returned to his home for burial.  We are 5th Cousins, 4 times removed.

This information was found in a book (Nuggets to Timber - Pioneer Days at Libby, Montana) published by the Libby Pioneer Society and the Libby Woman's Club in 1970, there is a reference to the sawmill company that Ramsey Crotteau was involved in Libby, Montana. it states...

In the spring of 1906 a number of capitalists from Merrill, Wisconsin landed in Libby with their families and began construction of a modern sawmill plant. This firm was organized as the DAWSON LUMBER COMPANY. The members of the original firm were: Dennis E Dawson, James Hurley, James E Leary, F.M. McBride and Jim McBride, Ramsey Crotteau and Lewis DeRosia.

In 1906 the Dawson Lumber Company built a modern sawmill plant bringing workers and their families to the town in greater number. Many built homes and decided to make Libby their permanent home. In 1911, J. Neils and Associates bought the Dawson Lumber Mill and it was later named the Libby Lumber Company. Familiar with the timber industry, the owners believed that reforestation was a necessary part of the industry, and they implemented an active tree-planting program through the company.

Source: Libby Montana History

 This grave yard is located on the corner of Crotteau Road and Treasure Avenue in Libby, Montana, USA

Sister Marie Croteau - Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada (Centenarian):

Sister Marie Croteau, PM, is older than the Province of Saskatchewan, having celebrated her 100th birthday on Jan 3.  She is now a record setter as she is the only member of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary to live to such a ripe old age.

Sister Croteau is still mentally sharp and able to get around on her own with the aid of a walker.  The sister who looks after her, Sister Beverly Pillar, describes her as a very determined lady.  "You can do what ever you want." she say to Croteau, helping her describe her life now, but she is quickly corrected.  "I do whatever I can, first off.", Croteau retorts with a laugh. Born near St. John, North Dakota (03 Jan 1905, USA) Marie Croteau was the fifth of what was to become a family of 12 children.  Those who have grown up television, cars, and computer can only imagine what her childhood might have been like.  Marie was 10 when her family moved to Saskatchewan.  Land was cheap, and one of Marie's uncles had already made the move.  Her father decided to take a farm in the young Province also.

Croteau entered the convent when she was 20 and for the next 33 years taught grades 5 and 6 in several communities around the Province including Duck Lake, The Pas, Debden and Prince Albert Saskatchewan. She retired from teaching when back troubles go the better of her and took on the work of sewing for her fellow sisters at the convent in Prince Albert where she has lived, as she puts it, "for along time now".  She was a seamstress for the community for 12 years and now resides in the portion of the convent that functions as a nursing home for the elderly sisters.

Asked what she does with her time now, she jokes, "Now, I'm loafing".  But though she is partial to naps, she prays her beads several times a day - "Because I have the time,: she says - and goes to the chapel for mass in the morning, "when I don't forget that it's time to go".  She has dinner and supper in the main dining room and likes keeping up-to-date with what's going on in and around the convent. What does she think about being 100? "I think that it's going far enough, but if God wants to keep me going on, I'll keep on.  I'm well served here, I'm well taken care of.  I can't complain."

by Karin Tate-Penna (Saskatchewan)

Sister Marie Croteau is being presented her Centenarian Medal

Sister Marie is the daughter of Anthime Stephen Croteau b:25 Dec 1876,  and Irene M Mousette b: 26 Nov 1878 - both of Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA who married 29 Aug 1898 in Tarsus, North Dakota, USA. We are 3rd cousins, once removed.  Rather close!  Further information on this family can be obtained by visiting Mike Croteau's web site.

Staff Sergeant Donald Conrad Crotteau:

SSgt. Donald Crotteau was born 18 Feb 1921 in Mosinee, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA died 24 Apr 1944 during WW II.  He married Catherine Marjorie Kinney in Stevens Point, Portage, Wisconsin, USA circa 1941 just as the USA was entering WW II.  SSgt. Croteau was part of the Combat Organization, with the 321st Bomber Squadron, 90th Bomber Group  From all the information I can gather at this time,  it appears he was on a mission when his B-24D bomber was shot down over the Philippines in the South Pacific. There is one report that he was taken as a Prisoner of War and held captive by the Japanese.  He earned the Purple Heart and Air Medals to name a few. He was brought home for burial in Wisconsin, USA.  We are 7th Cousins, once removed.  Thank you Terry Crotteau.

 
Staff Sergeant Donald C. Crotteau

"Connell's Special" B-24 Bomber of the 90th Bomb Group - Jolly Rogers

Rodney Bruce Croteau (Doctorate);

Dr. Rodney Croteau is a Professor of Biological Chemistry at Washington State University who has authored more than 300 publications. He has also authored 20 patents, received numerous honours and awards, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Croteau is a leader in the field of terpenoid metabolism in plants and microbes. Terpenoids are the largest family of natural products and are key molecules in the flavour and fragrance industries. Rod Croteau began his work at the University in 1972 as a postdoctoral fellow and joined the faculty in 1974. One of the early faculty members of IBC, Croteau served as institute director from 1986 to 1989.

I have not yet found the relationship between this man and myself... I'm still working on it.
Messages I have sent are either ignored, or not received.

Awards and Honours

• National Academy of Sciences
• Two MERIT awards from the National Institutes of Health
• 2003 Eminent Faculty Award, Washington State University
• Eisig-Tode Distinguished Professor of Forest Biotechnology
• 1992 Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Activity
• 1990 Senior Faculty Award for Excellence in Research

 See also: http://research.wsu.edu/national_academy/croteau.html Washington State University

The genealogy web site has been put together using Legacy software