Robert D. Lussier, 74, died September 9, 2021. He had been residing at 4141 North S Herrera Way, Phoenix, AZ in the Veteran’s retirement home. He courageously fought liver and throat cancer, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes for the past 11 years.
He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts September 2, 1947 to a French Canadian couple Emile A Lussier and Aurora Paquin. They moved to Arizona when Robert was 5 years of age. He attended school in Phoenix at St. Agnes grade school and North High School. Robert had served his country in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967 where he was trained as a lineman and electrician. He served his time in Vietnam embeded with a South Korean military unit the Blue Dragons, and was exposed to Agent Orange amongst other horrific situations during the Vietnam war, and had come home without a hero's welcome.
He married in June of 1968 at the Chapel of the Bells in Reno, Nevada to Suzanne Marie Henry, a member of the US Navy whom he met while on guard duty at Alemeda Naval Base upon his return from duty in Vietnam. They moved from Oakland, CA to Franklin, PA where Robert worked at Sherman Williams and later for a Sand & Gravel company, dredging sand on a barge on the Allegheny River. His first child, a son was born in Franklin shrrtly after.
Pennsylvania winters did not agree with “Bob” so when his uncle Charles Desrosier offered him a job at Messinger Graphics in Phoenix, Az. he quickly accepted. He packed up his highly customized Opal Cadet and headed west for Phoenix towing a U-Haul trailer with his wife and son.
Bob would continue his love affair with fast cars and motorcycles all his life. He loved riding his multiple Harley motorcycles and did many a road trip. He would later work as an electrician in Phoenix before suffering from a stroke at age 54. He also had a love of animals from a tiny chipmunk he bought his wife and later owning several reptiles, rabbits, and many dogs including dash hounds, Dobermans, and a Great Dane.
Bob was an outgoing, charming man and during his time at the retirement home, he served as floor manager advocating for his fellow service members. He frequently gifted fellow vets and workers with burritos, burgers, pop corn, beef jerky, lollipops, and many other treats. He drove his power chair like a racecar and was occasionally “grounded” to his room for reckless driving. He loved being out and about feeding birds in the park and frequenting the tattoo shop. If you went with him to the park or other outing, you had to “sprint” to keep up with him. He will be missed and remembered by many.
He is survived by his older brother Albert Lussier, retired USAF residing in Texas; his son Eric Lussier of Phoenix, AZ; first wife Suzanne Marie; grandchildren Dylan Smith, former Marine Brandon Lawrence, and Keely Shaye Smith of Phoenix, AZ. He has two great granddaughters, Dakota Rose and Grace Adeline Laurence of Phoenix. Also a cousin Chuck Desrosier, niece and nephew Scott and Melissa Lussier.
Inturnment will be held at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona located at 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024 on Friday, November 12, 2021, 1PM. Arizona Patriot Guard will deliver his ashes to the cemetery at approximately 12:20pm followed by a ceremony with military honors and presentation of the US flag.
Family and friends will be hosting afterward a celebration to remember Robert’s life at American Legion Post #107 at 20001 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024.
Please RSVP with Eric Lussier at [email protected] or 602-799-0252.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.0