Memorial Services for John Calix Pommier will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. with Msgr. R. Paul Heiting officiating. The organist is Patty LeClairie. The song leaders are Karen Pommier and Terry Schmitz. The honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren. Interment is at Calvary Cemetery in Currie, MN. Military honors accorded by the Currie American Legion Post.
Visitation will be on Friday, December 21, 2018 at the IHM Church in Currie from 4-7 p.m. and also one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com
Calix Pommier was born on December 22, 1926, on the family farm north of Currie, Minnesota to Leo and Eva Deslauriers Pommier. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school. At the age of 12 Calix went to live with and work for Matt Ockenfels. On March 27, 1945, Calix enlisted in the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge on November 13, 1946, he returned to the Ockenfels’ home.
On June 20, 1949, he and Elizabeth “Betty” Leas were married at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie. Following their marriage, they made their home above the bowling alley in Currie; later moving to Amiret, MN for a short time. They returned to Currie living on Ray Ruppert’s farm east of Currie and later moving to the Edwin Krusemark farm southwest of Currie. In 1959 they moved to the family farm near the dam. Calix also worked as a carpenter for Richard Hudson and at Campbell Soup in Worthington, MN 23 years while farming. In 2015 they moved to Maplewood Assisted Living in Fulda, MN.
In 2018 Calix became a resident of the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Fulda where he passed away on Friday, December 14, 2018 at the age of 91.
Calix knew his antiques like he knew the roads to Currie. If you were in need of something and it could not be found all you had to do was ask Calix because he would have it and knew just where to look amongst his collection. He and Betty would spend many hours in the Ford Ranger driving around looking at his traps, the dam, area fields and of course a stop at the Currie Legion or Breezy point. If you found yourself with an unwanted Pocket Gopher you knew it was time to call “Trapper John” to the rescue. Calix was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. He also was a member of the Currie Town and Country and the Currie American Legion serving as past Commander and Chaplin. Calix enjoyed collecting antiques, playing ball, afternoon drives, fishing, hunting, trapping, shooting pool, visiting with people, playing cards, especially Pinochle, and drinking beer. Calix was a jokester. He loved giving people a hard time and making them smile or mad. Everyone knew that Calix was never wrong when it came to cards or anything else in life. He will be remembered for his distinctive laugh, his one-of-a-kind personality and always being right.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Pommier of Fulda, MN; two children and their spouses, Murray and Jeanne Pommier of Bloomington, MN, and Shelly and Dave Bassett of Slayton, MN; eight grandchildren, Tom Keeler, Jennifer Witter, Ben Pommier, Angie Nix, Jared “Bubba” Fogelson, Jessica Rykhus, Tammy Bassett, and Ronnie Bassett; 17 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson.
He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Dianna Keeler; granddaughter-in-law, Chris Quick; and three brothers, Clifford, Godfrey and Duane “Pudgy” Pommier.