Daniel R. Francoeur passed away Sept. 26, 2018, in Ahwahnee, Calif. He was born Dec. 18, 1944, in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, to Louis and Edna Francoeur, and was the second of eight children.
Dan was a wonderful husband and family man. He is survived by Eleanor, his wife of nearly 55 years; two sons, Dean (Sharon) and Chris (Jodie) of Simi Valley, Calif. They have five grandchildren; Sydney, Bailey, Kendra, Keaira, and Jason. There are seven great-grandchildren with the eighth and ninth on the way.
Dan and Eleanor met in high school and married in 1964. In 1966, they emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Southern California where they raised their children.
Dan found work at 3M (Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing) in Northridge as a warehouseman and soon moved to the aerosol department where metered dose inhalers (MDIs) were manufactured and filled. Over many years, he advanced and became an expert in MDIs. Because of his expertise in MDI valves, he traveled to 3M plants in France and the U.K. to help them develop their MDI facilities.
During this time, Dan and Eleanor moved to the U.K. and lived in Loughborough for a year while he assisted with the development of 3M’s Loughborough MDI facility. He was recognized as the manufacturing leader of the next wave of MDI technology. They returned to California, and he continued his work at 3M until his retirement in 2001.
At his retirement party, in recognition of Dan’s wonderful sense of humor, the cake arrived with the words “Happy Retirement Ben.” The first suggestion was “has been”, then “bend over”, (and others), and these remarks were hilariously carried on for some time. Dan’s big smile, humor, and quick wit were his trademarks.
After his retirement, Dan and Eleanor moved to the mountain area where he was a leader in his community. He was very active on the “Save River Creek Golf Course” committee. He was the head of the Ahwahnee Community Council and also served on the Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park board. He was a member of the River Creek Men’s Golf Club and was past president and current treasurer.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at Our Lady of the Sierra Catholic Church; 40180 Indian Springs Road, Oakhurst, Calif.
Remembrances to Our Lady of the Sierra Catholic Church building fund, 40180 Indian Springs Road, Oakhurst CA 93644 or Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation, 9300 Valley Children’s Place, PC 17, Madera CA 93636-8762 or online at https://www.valleychildrens.org/foundation/donate-to-valley-childrens
