Marshall K Bourbonais

• Residence: 1940 - 1209 Ruby Street, Houghton Village, Portage Township, Houghton, Michigan, USA
• Race: White
  • Reference: 1940 United States Federal Census - SmartCopy: Dec 15 2017, 8:28:56 UTC
• Residence: Houghton, Houghton, Michigan - 1935
• Residence: Marital Status: SingleRelation to Head of House: Son, Houghton, Houghton, Michigan, USA - Apr 1 1940
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Aug 6 2018, 10:34:17 UTC

Marshall "Bing" Bourbonais, 76, who had resided at Maple Manor Nursing Center in Ontonagon, Michigan, for the past 4 years, was released from the bonds of Alzheimer disease when God took him home on March 26, 2008.

Bing was born on October 1, 1931, in Houghton, MI, the son of the late Alvin and Dorothea Bourbonais. Bing, a graduate of Houghton High School, was known as the "Houghton Wildcat" playing running back in football, and was also avid in basketball and track. Because he sang like Bing Crosby while in the high school glee club, they called him "Bing", and that wonderful singing voice and the nickname stuck with him throughout his life. Graduating from high school in 1949, the caption under his yearbook picture read, "An unextinguished laughter shakes the skies."

He served in the Air Force during the Korean War, where, while stationed in Tokyo, Japan, he met and married his wife, Kiyo "Kitty" Hattori. This past March 20th marked their 55th wedding anniversary, and, although Bing has now passed on to his home in Heaven, their love will never end.

After the war, Bing worked at the White Pine Copper Company for a number of years until his retirement. He was active in softball and was a charter member of the Ontonagon Sports Booster Club. Two of his greatest joys in life were golfing, belonging to the men's golf league, and singing and playing the guitar whenever he had a chance, playing at a few popular night spots around town or having a "jam-session" with his singing buddies. Bing and Kitty were the "ballroom dancers" of Ontonagon County—always the first out on the dance floor, whether it was a jitterbug or a waltz, and they did it with pizzazz and style! An Episcopalian altar boy in his youth, he still participated in communion and worship services till his final days as an active member of the Holy Family Catholic Church.

Bing was survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kitty; daughters, Linda (Jerry) Koski, and Elizabeth (Randy) Trasti; sister, Marilyn Bourbonais of Hancock, MI; brother-in-law, Benjamin Junttonen of Newport, MI; grandchildren Kristi Koski (fiancé Jim Gonzales) of Phoenix, AZ; Brian Bailey of Monticello, MN; Keith (Carly) Bailey of Forest Hills, MI; Renee Skidmore (finance Thomas Benes) of Coon Rapids, MN; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Alexis, and Destiny; and several nephews and nieces.

Bing was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Graham Jaehnig of Houghton, MI; sister, Marion Junttonen; sister and brother-in-law, Nobuko and Hiroshi Tanioka, Tokyo, Japan; and grandson, Jim "Bucket" Koski of Ontonagon, MI.

Funeral: Holy Family Catholic Church

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 6 2018, 10:58:21 UTC