Rease ''Willy'' Premeau
September 21, 1946 - June 28, 2001

Rease Willy Premeau, 54, of 204 Riverside Road, Marquette, died suddenly, Thursday afternoon in the Ishpeming area from a sudden heart attack, doing the work he loved to do.

Willy was born September 21, 1946 in Park Falls, Wisconsin to Charlotte (Campbell) Premeau and the late Clifford Premeau. In 1951 the Premeau family moved to Marquette where Willy chose to be a lifelong resident and make his home. He was in the last graduating class of Gravereat High School in 1964. On October 27, 1973 he married Robin (Robitaille) at the Missionary Church in Marquette.

Willy was employed as a foreman at the Premeau Construction Company along side his brother (Wayne) for the last 29 years. Under his rough exterior he was a gentle and caring man and will always be thought of as a mentor to those he worked with. He carried various certificates in wastewater management from the state of Michigan and the Hazwoper. He loved his job and all the projects he worked on, in and around the Marquette area, he also took great pride in his work. Willy would help anyone, anywhere, anytime that was his nature.

Willy was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 360 and a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. He enjoyed spending time with his children and family; fishing, swimming, tinkering with cars, gardening, and using his craftmanship talents to work on his home. He also loved to take long walks on the beach and camp at Yellowdog Falls in Big Bay, where he could go to be with nature. Recently his hobby was astronomy, gazing at the moon and stars trough his new telescope.

Surviving Mr. Premeau are his wife, Robin; mother, Charlotte Premeau; children, Michelle (Premeau) Hult of Marquette, Brenda (Paul) Reynolds of Ishpeming, John William and Shirley Margaret Premeau of Marquette; a brother, Wayne (Nancy) Premeau of Marquette; a sister, Peggy (Chip) Gobert of Marquette; three grandchildren, Tim & Tony Hult and Emilee Reynolds; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Clifford Premeau and eldest sister Elsie Mae Daish.

Friends may call at the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home on Monday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday in the funeral home at 11 a.m. with Pastor Cindy Jean Saul officiating. Following will be a luncheon at the First Presbyterian Church, 120 N. Front St., Marquette. Interment will be held following the luncheon at approximately 2:30 p.m. in Powell Township Cemetery in Big Bay.

Mr. Premeau will be escorted by John W. Premeau, Ashley Callier, Ryan Dupras, Louie Cass, Pedro Flynn and Curt Tuttle.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to a fund in Mr. Premeaus name to benefit his children for the future.

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