BIDDEFORD — Leo Gerard Champoux ended his hard-fought battle with cancer on Oct. 29, 2016, four days before his 83rd birthday. He was surrounded at home by his loving family, including Doris, his wife of 63 years, as he passed peacefully from this world into the hands of our Lord.

Leo was born in Biddeford on Nov. 2, 1933, to Wilfrid and Georgiana Champoux. Besides his parents, he was also by preceded in death by: brother, Florian and his wife Jeanne; his brother, Fernand; his sister, Rita and her husband Arthur Beaupre and their sons Richard and Gerard; and his sister, Reverend Sr. Gertrude.

Leo served in the U.S. Army at the end of the Korean War. He was happily united with his fiancé, Doris Drapeau, after 1 1/2 years in Germany where they were wed by a U.S. Army chaplain. Three years later, Leo, with pride, was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant. Upon their return to the states, they settled in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where they raised their six children. During this time, he worked 25 years at American Biltrite in Cambridge followed by 15 years at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. 

 Leo and Doris moved to Bartlett, New Hampshire, after retirement in 1994, where they enjoyed the mountain life and the welcoming community of Our Lady of the Mountains Parish. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus as well as a member of the American Legion. He especially enjoyed playing golf at the Wentworth and Eagle Mountain golf courses and also enjoyed skiing after taking it up in his 60s. Leo and Doris also enjoyed golfing and socializing during the winters in Myrtle Beach with their close friends.

Besides his loving wife, Doris, he leaves behind: his five daughters, Jo Arnold and her husband Ken, Sue Comosa and her husband Brian, Lynn Faherty and her husband Sean, Peggy Freeman and her husband Joe, Cheryl Evansen and her husband Ed; and son, Michael and wife Doreen. Leo also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

The family would like to thank The Knights of Columbus as well as Leo and Doris’s friends and extended family for all their love, prayers and assistance during his illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dana Farber Thoracic Cancer Center (www.dana-farber.org) or to the Visiting Nurse and Home Hospice Care of Carroll County (www.vnhch.org) from whom he benefited from their exceptional care and compassion.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Mountains Church, 2905 White Mtn. Highway, North Conway, NH, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Bartlett, New Hampshire followed by a luncheon for family and friends.

To send a message of condolence, or for more information visit www.furberandwhite.com.