Patrick Lee Rousseau

Although he was taken from his loved ones without warning, Patrick Rousseau made a significant impact in the lives of everyone he met. He was a man of integrity and honor who took great pride in everything he did, and his faith was easy to see in everything he did. A beloved husband and father, Patrick was deeply devoted to his family, and his love for his wife and daughter was truly unmatched. Although he was quiet, he had an amazing sense of humor, and his zest for life was truly contagious. Life will never be the same without Patrick here, but he leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that his loved ones will forever cherish.

It was 1983 when Jules Denis and Mary Monica (Towsley) Rousseau were pleased to announce the birth of the baby boy they named Patrick Lee on September 19th. He was one of three boys in the Rousseau clan as he was raised in the family home on Oil Tank Road in Iroquois Falls, Ontario, Canada, alongside his brothers, D’arcy R. and Paul D. Patrick’s father worked as a stationary engineer while his mother was a homemaker and a homeschooler. They were very close to their extended family including Patrick’s grandparents, and the whole family regularly got together during the holidays.

In many ways Patrick was a young boy of his generation. He enjoyed fun camping trips at Lake Mistango near Cochrane, Ontario, Canada, during the summers, and he also took several trips to Quebec City as well as trips to Mexico and Dominican Republic. As a child Patrick broke his arm playing football when he was nine years old. He danced on the boardwalk along the St. Lawrence Seaway and ran a marathon with his brother, Paul, and his father, completing a 26 miler on his 26th birthday. As a family they were members of Saint Anne Catholic Church in Iroquois Falls. As a student Patrick attended E’cole Catholique Saints-Martyrs-Canadians from kindergarten through 3rd grade, he was also homeschooled for a time, and he later attended E’cole Secondaire Catholique Alex-Pellertier. While in high school he was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets from the age of 12 through 19, and he completed all seven years with perfect attendance. While part of the program, Patrick learned leadership and citizenship, and he took part in a biathlon. He loved being in the Royal Canadians and took great pride in having done this. After graduating from high school, Patrick went on to Franciscan University of Stubenville, Ohio, earning his Bachelor of Science in Anthropology in 2002.

New and exciting changes were in store for Patrick when he met the woman of his dreams. Her name was Jelena Lietz, and she is the sister of one of Patrick’s longtime friends. They began dating on June 29, 2010, and with a desire to establish a life together they were married on August 23, 2014, at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The newlyweds then spent two weeks driving along the Pacific Coastal Highway in California for a honeymoon. They settled into a home on Wimbledon, SW, in Grand Rapids. Together they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Isabelle, who was born on June 23, 2015. Both his wife and daughter brought such joy to Patrick’s life, and they looked forward to the birth of another baby on January 5, 2017. He and Jelena were members of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Grand Rapids where they made many dear friends. Patrick treasured his Catholic faith, and he was very devout in praying the rosary. To support his family, he worked as a truck driver for Republic Services. Patrick loved his work there and was treated like family. They made numerous priceless memories on vacation in Glen Arbor.

Throughout his life Patrick was a man of many interests. He was an avid reader who read anything he could get his hands on. Among his favorite authors were G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Louis L’Amour, and Tom Clancy. Patrick loved to play video games and could remember the words to any song after hearing it only once. He loved the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival, especially “Down on the Corner” as well as Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” and Tony Bennett, but Patrick’s favorite artist was Jonny Mathis. Patrick was the one to cook dinner for the family most evenings, and he loved both spaghetti and eggplant parmesan. Always up for an adventure, he loved traveling and cycling as well as reading and canoeing, hiking, flight, and long walks on the beach. Patrick was passionate about his favorite team, the Green Bay Packers, too.

Patient, kind, and philosophical, Patrick Rousseau was a blessing in the lives of everyone he met. He could be so witty and funny, yet he was also an intellectual at times as well. He loved children and had a special place in his heart for his nieces and nephews, but there was no one he treasured more than his wife and daughter. Sensitive and loving, Patrick lived a life of purpose with each and every day he was given. He will be forever missed.

Patrick Lee Rousseau, aged 32 of Grand Rapids, passed away very unexpectedly on Thursday, August 18, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Jelena Rousseau (Lietz), his daughter, Isabelle, and his unborn child due in 4 months. Also surviving are his parents, Jules and Mary Rousseau; his in-laws, Charles and Lorrie Ann Lietz; his grandmother, Reine Rousseau; his brothers, D’arcy (Crystal) Rousseau, Paul (Laura) Rousseau; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pat was a loving and dedicated, husband and father and a friend to all who knew him. He worked for Republic Services as a truck driver, where he made many wonderful friendships and who treated him as family. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 156 Garfield Ave. SW. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM with a scripture service at 7:00 PM. Visitation also at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 am until the Mass begins at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider your contributions in Pat’s memory to help with funeral and family expenses. To read more about Patrick’s life, to leave your own memory of him and to sign his guest book, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com