106 West Main Street
P.O. Box 146
NEGAUNEE, MI 49866
Phone: 906-475-4631
Fax: 906-475-5561
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PHILIP ARTHUR
LANGLOIS

May 19, 1930 – September 25, 2018

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PHILIP LANGLOIS
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Obituary for PHILIP ARTHUR LANGLOIS

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Philip Langlois, brought to life in Negaunee and proud to have spent all of his 88 years within its borders, entered eternal life Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility. He exuded the best of the traits he sought in those he called his friends: honesty, loyalty, generosity, industriousness, dependability.

He had no tolerance for liars, bullies or opportunists – which explains why until his waning days he railed at the current administration, especially Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell.

The last of 13 children born to William and Ann (Rochon) Langlois’ mining family, Philip was aghast when his children, Kathi (Richard Laituri) and Keith (Francine Melotti), bought a plaque in his honor at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee. His father and late brothers, he felt, were the ones worthy of honor.

A graduate of Negaunee St. Paul – as was his wife and sweetheart since junior high school, Patricia (Catto), to whom he was married 69 years – Philip worked in several mines, ending with Negaunee’s Tracy Mine. Weary of living under the constant specter of mine layoffs, the 30-year-old Philip decided to pursue a college degree as a pathway to a more stable income for his young family. He earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree – all while working full time at the mine – from Northern Michigan University and spent the last 25 years of his working life with the Michigan Department of Social Services, the bulk of it as the director of the Alger County office.

Though he made lifelong friendships while working for the state, he never wavered from his contention that he identified foremost as a miner. He spun tapestries of colorful quotes and barbs worthy of Mark Twain, legacies of his days trading good-natured jabs with his fellow miners.

Philip was a labor union president who remained fiercely supportive of the right to collectively bargain. While working for the state, his bargaining expertise was utilized by management to help facilitate equitable contracts with employee unions.

A voracious reader, Philip remained intellectually curious throughout his life. He wasn’t a traveler – why leave the U.P? – but was nevertheless worldly. He enjoyed watching (cursing at) the Tigers, gardening, novels of all sorts, biographies, World War II documentaries and weaving carpets in his loom shack. In retirement, he helped his still-working Sioux Court neighbors by having their driveways faithfully cleared of snow – favors returned later in life as they looked after him

He would disapprove of the length and fuzziness of his obituary, but he got overruled this time.

In addition to his wife and children, Philip is survived by grandchildren Tami Grobar (T.J. Mallett, fiance), Adam Langlois (Sara Clark, fiancée), Elizabeth (Charles Keenan) and Christian Bacon; and great-grandchildren, Jadan and Jyanna Grobar.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 28th at St. Paul Catholic Church with Rev. Larry VanDamme officiating. Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens. The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00 am until the time of Mass at 12:00 noon at church on Friday. A luncheon will follow in the St. Paul Gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) or the Michigan Democratic Party (https://michigandems.com/).

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Visitation

When Friday, September 28th, 2018 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location
St. Paul Catholic Church
Address
202 W. Case St.
Negaunee, MI 49866

Service Information

When
Friday, September 28th, 2018 12:00pm
Location
St. Paul Catholic Church
Address
202 W. Case St.
Negaunee, MI 49866