Joseph Erving Lejeune

Joe attended Louisiana College and McNeese State University. Joe retired from Kroger Grocery Store and he formerly managed the Continental Grain of Lake Charles. He owned the Iowa Rice Dryer and Iowa’s Shell Gas Station. He was employed with Shell Oil Company, on shore and off shore field operations. Joe was a Staff Sergeant in the US Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He was on special assignment as witness to an atomic bomb test at Camp Desert Rock, Nevada in May of 1952.

Joe coached little league and senior league baseball. He was a member and former Grand Knight of the Iowa knights of Columbus. He was an executive member of the Board of Lawrence Toups Scholarship Foundation. He was a highly decorated high school athlete from Hathaway in basketball, track, and softball. He also played football, basketball and softball for Louisiana College the US Marine Corp. He continued his avid sportsmanship in both basketball and softball for more than 25 years. Joe then shifted his emphasis toward coaching and encouraging various youth leagues and high school athletics.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carrie Blanchard Lejeune of Lake Charles, LA; children, Phyllis Lejeune of Austin, Texas, Michael Lejeune and wife Tommie of Houston, Texas, Wendell Lejeune and wife Sheila of Vinton, LA and Blaine Lejeune and wife Cindy of Lake Charles; siblings, Ada Mae Lejeune Lee of Jennings, LA, James B. Lejeune of Lake Charles, Eugene A. Lejeune and wife Jackie of Maringouin, LA, Robert A. Lejeune of Jennings, LA, and Louis E. Lejeune and wife Barbara of Hathaway, LA; grandchildren, Eric Hoffpauir, Cherie Hoffpauir, Amanda Lejeune, Brittany Lejeune, Nicole Lejeune, and Alyson Lejeune; and great grandchildren, Nola Josephine Hoffpauir, Findley Stutes and Fletcher Joseph Stutes. He was preceded in death by his father, Amay Lejeune; mother, Marie Eudia Miller Lejeune; sister, Eula Mae Lejeune Semmes; and granddaughter, Danielle Lee Lejeune.

A celebration of his life will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Rev. Keith Pellerin will officiate. His internment will follow the service at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at the funeral home and will continue at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday until the time of service. There will be a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lawrence Toups Scholarship at 2412 Gardenia Lake Charles, LA 70601. Words of comfort may be expressed with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.