Valliere Alfred"Coach Val"Saurage

SAURAGE JR, VALLIERE ALFRED (COACH VAL)Coach Val was born on October 9, 1932 and peacefully entered into God's hands on March 28, 2016 at 83 years of age.  He graduated Redemptorist High School where he won the Louisiana State Boxing Championship and attained his degree in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University and was also a member of the football team.  After serving in the US Navy during the Korean War, he began a long and successful coaching career.  He coached and was an influence and inspiration to many players at Edgard, Redemptorist, Port Allen, White Castle, and Ascension Catholic High Schools.  When not on the playing field or in the classroom, Coach kept active by hunting, fishing, gardening, playing dominos and cards with family and friends.  During summer vacations and after his retirement from coaching and teaching, he worked as a carpenter, ironworker, construction superintendent, a maintenance superintendent and a handyman.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary (Tiny) Daigle Saurage, his parents Valliere Alfred and Thelma Rentrop Saurage, his sister Martha Anne Reine, a grandson Wyatt Saurage and brother-in-law Michael Cronan.  He is survived by four loving and successful sons, Alfred T. and Sandra Saurage, Mike and Karen Saurage, Val Joseph and Becky Saurage, Gerard (Jerry) Saurage and fiancée Corrie Lindsey, a sister Mary Rose Cronan, a brother Conrad and Reba Saurage, brother-in-law Joseph Reine, 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.  Pallbearers will be Alfred Saurage Jr., Mike Saurage Jr., Gerard Scott Saurage, Val Joseph (VJ) Saurage Jr., Nicholas Saurage and Tippy Landry with Honorary Pallbearers Cade Saurage, Ethan Aucoin, and JD Campesi.  The Family would like to give a very special thanks to the staff at Sunrise Assisted Living for their help and support these past few years.  Visitation will be from 5:00 PM till 9:00 PM on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd, and on Friday April 1, 2017 from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church followed by Services.  Internment will be at Greenoaks Memorial Park.  If you wish, donations can be made to Friends of Catholic Charities, PO Box 1668, Baton Rouge, La 70821-1668.