Michael Trudeau
BERKSHIRE, VT/ GLENDALE, AZ: It is with a heavy heart that the family of Michael Trudeau announces his passing. He was 73 years old. Mike was a deeply loved and respected husband, brother, father, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend.
Mike was born in Sheldon, Vermont the son of Francis and Shirley (Greenwood) Trudeau.
At age 17 he joined the United States Marine Corps. While serving in Vietnam, he became an expert marksman. Mike was at the center of an explosion in July of 1968; while recuperating, during the year’s stay at the Naval hospital in Chelsea, MA, he was awarded a Purple Heart. Mike served his country with honor.
Mike returned home to St. Albans on October 31st, 1969, and became employed at Fonda Container Co. until health issues prevented him from continuing. He attended Champlain College for two years in their social services program.
Mike was a jack of all trades. He built two log homes in Berkshire; he was gifted in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and handyman work for himself and others. He had a storehouse of knowledge that he shared willingly. He was an avid fisherman and skilled hunter.
Mike’s love of sugaring started at an early age when he would see the steam rising at Reed’s sugarhouse from the two-room schoolhouse in Sheldon Creek. It wasn’t long before he was headed up Crow Hill to join the Reed boys as they were boiling. That love transferred into his adult life as he built his first sugarhouse at the cabin in East Berkshire with 200 taps as his sugarmaking legacy began In 1993 Mike purchased a 100-acre woodlot on the Lost Nation Road in North Berkshire and developed it into his dream of a bona fide maple farm with close to 9,000 taps, a totally revamped sugarhouse, new equipment, and a desire to work the land and make maple syrup. When Mike was no longer able to operate the business, he sold and settled in Arizona spending precious time with family there.
Mike leaves behind his wife of 53 years Sheila, their son Aaron (Pam) Trudeau, his sister Gloria (William) Hughes, sisters-in-law Marie (Ralph) Grimes, Carole (Peter) Lucia, and Betsy Greenwood; and the grandchildren he adored Shanna (Mark) Beckim, Shawn Seekins, Katherine (Macy) Kasson, Haven, Shan, and Lucy Trudeau; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by their son Shan Trudeau, brothers Terry Trudeau and Robert Greenwood, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Hugh and Jackie Gross, niece Michelle (Berkley) McNall, and great-nephew Stetson James.
There will be a time of visitation at the Enosburg Opera House on June 17th from 2 to 4 pm with a Memorial Service and Military honors at 4 pm. The burial will be in the Berkshire Center Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
