Donald Oscar Menard

Donald O. Menard, 90, passed away June 23, 2022, after a brief illness at home on Prairie Creek Reservoir in Selma, Indiana.  Claire M. (Laferte) Menard, his wife, and love of 68 years held his hand and kissed him as he passed. He was surrounded and comforted by members of his loving family, including his daughter Janice E. Ratliff and her husband John Mark Ratliff, grand-daughter Laura Brown, great-granddaughter Madeline Cline and her husband Brandon Cline, grandson Stuart Winslow and great-granddaughter Emily Winslow, and son Andrew Menard and his wife Carol Heston.  Born in Harrisville, Rhode Island, Donald was the last surviving child of the late Pierre and Hermeline (Cabana) Menard and was predeceased by his four brothers George, Cleo, Robert, and Norman Menard, and his seven sisters Olive Lapierre, Mildred Fournier, Florence Doris Lapierre, Elaine Ferland, Evelyn Lapierre, Claire Mousseau, and Janet Menard.

Donald was the loving and devoted husband of Claire in a lifelong romance that traces to 1946 when they met at a high school dance in Burrillville, RI. They courted through their years in high school and college and were married on November 6, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Church, in Pascoag, a village in the town of Burrillville. 

In high school, Donald was a standout athlete in baseball, football, and hockey. Following high school, Donald graduated from Middlebury College (Vermont) in 1954. He was a four-year starter on the Middlebury men’s hockey team, serving as captain during his senior year. 

Donald was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1955 and was deployed to Germany as part of the occupation force arrayed in the southeastern zone of that country abutting Soviet-dominated East Germany and Czechoslovakia. He and his wife Claire rented a room in the small home of a German couple, Herr and Frau Schoberth, sharing a twin bed, a hotplate, and a wash basin. In March 1956, their first son Donald Arthur Menard was born and joined them in the cozy room.

After his honorable discharge, the Menards eventually returned to Burrillville, RI where they raised their six children. Donald worked for 35 years as a newspaper reporter for the Woonsocket Call, covering a territory that included Burrillville and Glocester, RI. Donald was a leader in his local community, serving for many years as a firefighter, Lieutenant and then Captain in the Pascoag Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the local Lion’s Club, and an active member of St. Joseph’s Church and parish.

Donald and Claire devoted their energy and creativity to their family. While Claire worked as quartermaster, seamstress, bookkeeper, and matriarch for this small army, Donald supplemented his reporter’s income by working as a carpenter with his brothers Cleo and Robert, and as an assistant to the director at Brown’s Funeral Home. Despite, or because of, these struggles, the Menard house in Pascoag was full of love, encouragement, and joy.

After retiring from the Call in 1993, Donald and Claire split their time between Florida and Rhode Island.  In Pascoag, Donald and Claire eventually sold their old house and lived with son Kevin and daughter-in-law Laurie in their lovely home on Pascoag Reservoir. They traveled frequently in retirement, spending time visiting each of their children as well as relatives and friends.  Their memorable vacations included a stay in Rome, Italy; a cruise to Alaska; and several tours on their own of national parks and cities in the western U.S.  

Donald spent his final 16 years living in Indiana with Claire in the lovely home of his daughter Janice Ratliff and son-in-law John Mark Ratliff.  Donald enjoyed feeding and caring for Janice’s horses, doing carpentry for neighbors and friends, working outdoors with his friend Michael Wells and attending Mass, and participating in the community of St. Lawrence Church in Muncie Indiana. Most of all, he was happy as part of Mark and Jan’s family, which included granddaughter Laura and great-granddaughter Madeline.  From that home, Donald and Claire watched their family grow to include 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who live in at least 9 states.  Donald was proud and delighted to attend granddaughter Laura’s wedding to John Brown of Fishers, IN, and the recent wedding of great-granddaughter Madeline to Brandon Cline of Selma, IN.

Donald is survived by his loving wife Claire Martha (Laferte) Menard, who resides with Mark and Jan Ratliff in Selma Indiana; son Donald A. Menard and daughter-in-law Jill (Eaton) Menard of Andover, NJ; daughter Janice E. Ratliff and son-in-law Mark Ratliff of Selma, IN; son Kevin P. Menard and daughter-in-law Laurie (Smith) Menard of Orlando, FL; son Andrew R. Menard and daughter-in-law Carol Heston of Baltimore, MD; daughter Martha C. Menard of  Sparta, NJ; son Neil D. Menard and daughter-in-law Susan (Lamb) Menard of Winter Park, FL.  Donald is also survived by sisters-in-law Barbara (Lichon) Menard of Harrisville, RI and Frances (Lindsay) Menard of Deerfield Parade, NH, and brother-in-law Raymond (Pete) Lapierre of Harrisville, RI.  In addition to 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, Donald leaves over 50 nieces and nephews and many extended family members in Rhode Island and across the country.

On July 30, 2022, a memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 820 E Charles St, Muncie, IN, to be followed by a celebration of life starting at 1:00 PM at the home of Mark and Janice Ratliff at 8660 S County Road 560 E, Selma, IN 47383. All are invited to either or both.

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