Iron Mountain - Clarence Roger "Archie" LaBeau, 84, passed away peacefully at the Oscar G.  Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan, on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from complications of COPD and lung cancer.

Archie was born on June 6, 1934, in Ishpeming, Michigan (North Lake Location), to Joseph and Lillian (Tippett) LaBeau. He married his long-time friend, Barbara (Williams) on March 13, 2015, at their home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

On January 31,1953 Archie entered the United States Marine Corps, having served during the Korean conflict, at Camp Fuji, Japan. He was honorably discharged on February 1, 1956. After returning home from the military he went to work for the John F. Ivory moving company in Detroit prior to moving back to Ishpeming. He then went to work at CCI, but never could get used to working midnight shift, so his employment at Cliffs was short lived and thus began his favorite profession—truck driver. He drove truck for Union Carbide, Pettibone-Michigan Corporation and lastly, Lake Shore, Inc. out of Iron Mountain, from which he retired in 1992. Whenever he and Barbara were traveling across country, he would always re-live his truck driving days about places he had been, people he drove truck with and experiences on the road. In 1972 he owned and operated the Hitchin' Post bar and restaurant in Three Lakes, Michigan, the former Salvadore's Supper Club. He operated the Hitchin' Post until 1977 and went back to driving. Truck driving was Archie's passion.

Archie is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter Kim (Wil) Codman of Jackson Hole, WY; step-children Yvonne (Jason) Dunlap of Escanaba, John (Jolyn) Groskreutz of Browntown, WI and Jeff Williams of Maplewood, Minnesota; grandchildren Staci Moorehouse of Minot, ND and Scott Codman of Jackson Hole, WY; step-grandchildren Baileigh, Makayla and Gunnar Dunlap of Escanaba and Cody Groskreutz of WI; great-grandchildren Kaylee Moorehouse, Kaci Ayers, John and Opal Fomish, great-great granddaughter Ayva Rae Millan, a sister, Elizabeth Blondeau of Marquette, and a brother Joseph LaBeau of Washington State, in addition to several nieces and nephews and his dearly beloved fur-baby, Charli.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson Thomas John (TJ) Fomish in 2011; siblings Lyle Tippett, George (Zip) LaBeau, Leo LaBeau, Evelyn Marta, and Theresa Carlson; sisters-in-law Peggy LaBeau and June LaBeau; brothers-in-law Wilfred Tippett, John Marta and Leroy Blondeau.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2019, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic with Rev. Doug Norquist officiating. Burial will be in the Republic Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service on Friday at the church. A luncheon will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the entire staff of the CLC Unit at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center for the wonderful care extended to Archie. May God Bless each and every one of you.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Oscar G Johnson VA Medical Center, Voluntary Services, 325 East H Street, Iron Mountain, MI 49801 or to a charity of their choice in memory of Archie. Cards and condolences may also be sent to Archie's family in c/o Barbara LaBeau, 205 Vine Street, Ishpeming, MI 49849.

Archie's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.