Joseph L. Dautremont, Jr., 93, of Silver City passed away on February 16. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Delores Dautremont, their daughter Jeanette, his brother Fr. Charles Dautremont and sister Margaret Honton. He is survived by his brother James Dautremont and sister Maureen Damiani, twelve children, and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Joe was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Joseph & Gail Dautremont, Sr. and was the eldest of their five children. He married Delores at 21 before completing his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan. After graduation, they moved to California, where he earned a Master's degree in Mathematics at UCLA. He worked on the Moon Landing, microwave communications, and pioneered radar jamming technology for the B2 Stealth Bomber. Joe was an avid mountain climber and lead multiple backpacking expeditions in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Mount Whitney, the Tetons, and Mount Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico, as well as a canoe expedition down the Mackenzie River in Canada.
There was much life and love in our home, with the family eventually growing to 13 children: Emily Croy, Celeste Nowak, Jeanette Dautremont (d.), Joseph Dautremont III, Michele Aldridge, Yvonne d'Autremont, Lucine Hinze, Madeline Jordan, John Dautremont, Clare Kaldawi, Suzanne Rainwater, Rene' Standeven, and Nicole Dautremont. Surviving grandchildren include Alexander, Eleanor, Madeline, Elizabeth, Mary, Patrick, Jeanne, Renee, John, Geoffrey, Joy, Brittney, Paul, Erin, Sarah, David, Maureen, Rachel, Katherine, Jacob, Helen, Leo, Philip, Andrew, Melissa, Camille, Joseph, Angelyn, Dawnielle, Taira, Robert, Makenzie, Brett, James, Grace, Michael, Stephen, William, Peter, Cecilia, Jeanette, Adela, Nicole, David, Delores, Michael, Marie, Matthew, Adam, Allison, and 53 great-grandchildren.
Joe and Delores moved to Silver City in 1998, where they felt welcomed and formed deep friendships. They enjoyed hiking around Gomez Peak and attended Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery.
Funeral service will be held at Terrazas Funeral Chapels in Santa Clara on Saturday, March 9th. Rosary at 9:00am followed by Requiem Mass at 9:30am with Father Matthew officiating. The interment will follow at 11:00am at St. Vincent's Catholic Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest near his beloved, Delores Ann. Pallbearers are Alex Croy, Liam Croy, Michael Standeven, Patrick Croy, Joseph Dautremont, III, Everett Sears.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com .
