Francis Joseph Soucie

Francis “Frank” Joseph Soucie was born at the home of a nearby nurse during a spring snowstorm on March 24, 1931 in Iliff, Colorado, the first born to Sylvester and Rita (Boudreau) Soucie. He attended a country schoolhouse in the farming community of Proctor, spent two years at Longmont High, then graduated from St. Patrick’s Academy in Sydney, Nebraska in 1949. While attending Holy Cross Abbey College in Canyon City, he was drafted and served in the Navy from 1951-1955 on the LST 887. Besides his duties in fire control and electronics, he became the ship’s cameraman, and enjoyed showing 16mm films at ship’s reunions for many years to come. He married Freda Ciccarelli of Frederick, on August 3, 1952, and they celebrated 52 years and 5 children together, before her passing in 2005. He graduated from CU in 1959 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. The US Aerospace Program needed his skills and he tested engines for the Titan, Saturn, and Apollo space programs while working for Martin (Marietta), Rockwell, and Rocketdyne over a span of 17 years. After working another 14 years at Rocky Flats, he retired in 1990. He actually leaped out of his chair as he watched the Apollo astronauts lift off of the moon in 1969 in the engine he had so diligently tested. This was a crowning achievement in the career of a man who enjoyed his work and was gifted with precision and detail. However, in the whole fabric of life, his greatest satisfaction came from encouraging his wife and children to be successful and productive by helping them to achieve their dreams. As his heart weakened, he rediscovered the forgotten hobby of playing cards. Nothing could kindle his old intensity like a good competitive game of Hand and Foot. The card club, consisting of his mother, sister and special friend, Judy, provided many hours of laughter and companionship during the past few years. With his characteristic hospitality, Frank passed from this life on January 14th, 2008 at his Boulder home after an exhausting day of shopping in preparation for hosting his grandsons’ skiing vacation. We love you Dad and will see you and Mom again when our work here is done. Frank is survived by his mother, Rita Soucie of Longmont, his brother Robert Soucie of Denver, and his sister Eunice Hinson of Texas. He is also survived by his five children: Cynthia O’Donnell of Maine, Jeanie Davis of Florida, Dayna Wise of Thornton, John Soucie of Niwot, and Michael Soucie of Boulder. Also thriving are his 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, whom he lovingly referred to as his “rewards”.A time of visitation will be held at Howe Mortuary in Longmont on Monday, January 21, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. The memorial service will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Longmont at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. Contributions may be made to Leukemia Society of America, 621 17th St., Denver, CO., 80293. Please share thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.