Louis Elwood Fournier

Louis Elwood Fournier, 71, of Cass Lake died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday April 13, 2018. He was born on November 1, 1946 to David and Millie (Newell) Fournier, in a small cabin just down the road from his present home, the youngest of his family.

He grew up in the rural Cass Lake area, working in the woods at an early age logging with his brothers, Frank, Odin, and Dan. He was always working, laying sod in Minneapolis along I-35 when it was newly built, a garbage man in Bloomington, MN, a gas station owner in Tomah, Wisconsin, an over-the-road truck driver, and as his banker said, the only logger in northern MN at the time to grow a logging business from nothing and sell it at a profit. He married Gloria French on August 29, 1967. Over their fifty-three years together, Louis and Gloria raised 7 children, and many neighbor kids and employed many local men in his logging business over the years. They recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary last summer. Louis loved a good deal and was often found at auction sales, flea markets, and roadside sales. He has an impressive collection of chainsaws and old trucks, many of which he used in the woods over the years. He was a professional marshmallow cooker, knowing how to rearrange the campfire coals just right to cook a marshmallow to golden brown perfection on a stick he just cut with the jackknife in his pocket. He enjoyed rodeos, the State Fair, traveling with his wife Gloria, and pulling April Fools’ Day pranks on his family.

Louis is survived by his wife; Gloria, beloved dog; Shorty, daughters; Bonnie (Terry) Conner, Melanie Fischer, Millie (Jeff) Baird all of Cass Lake, Karen (Steve) Goss of Laporte, and one son; Richard (Robyne) Fournier of Fargo, ND, 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, brother; Frank Olson of Surrey, British Columbia and sister; Goodie Eskridge, Bemidji, and lifelong family friend Nancy Westlund Foster

He was preceded in death by his parents; David Fournier and Millie (Francis) Marty, sister; Mable Olson, brothers; Odin Olson, Dan Olson, sons; Wayne Bellanger and toddler son Bernard Fournier.

A visitation for Louis will begin at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 18th and continue until his service at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18th all being held at the Northern Peace Funeral Home 114 Tianna Drive, Walker, MN.  Pallbearers for Louis will be 8 of his grandchildren; Steven Goss Jr., Glenn Anderson Jr., Andrew Rogers, Ryan Baird, Samantha Goss, Jared Conner, Alan Baird and Katie Conner.  His honorary pallbearers are his 12 grandchildren; Mike (Marion) Conner, Lauren (Matt) Voeltz, Kristina (Matt) Anderson, Cori Bennett, Savannah (Taylor) Swenson, Zachary(Christina), Derek, David, Hailey & Olivia Conner; Kelsey (David) Goss, and Hannah (Robert) Baird, and 20 great grandchildren.  Interment will be in the Farris Cemetery, Cass Lake MN following his service.

The family would like to invite you to a luncheon at the Pike Bay Town Hall following the burial.

Louis’ care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker.  Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com.

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