Hooksett – Rosaire Leo “Rosie” Croteau, 92, passed away peacefully in his home July 24^th, 2017 surrounded by loving members of his family.

He was born on September 12, 1924 to the late Seraphin and Fidelia (Demers) Croteau of Manchester and lived the majority of his life in Hooksett.

Enlisting in the Marines in July 1942 at 17 years old, he served with the 4^th Division in WWII, seeing combat in Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima where he was awarded the Bronze Star for courage and conduct.

Upon his decorated discharge from service, he returned home to begin the next chapter of his life, his family.  Affectionately called ‘Rosie’, he married Irene (Ledoux) of Hooksett in June of 1946.   Their family grew by two with the birth of their children, Robert and Jo Anne, whom they raised closely alongside the families of their own siblings.  With everyone living in close proximity, weekly gatherings forged tight bonds with cousins, aunts and uncles, which are vintage by today’s standards.  Memorable moments of swimming, fishing and ice skating on family ponds, beach and camping trips, hunting weekends, Friday-night granddaughter dinners and vacations to places near and far were the constant heartbeat of the large extended family, which continues to resonate in the 3^rd and 4^th generations of today.

In his career, he was a successful home builder in the Hooksett area, owning and operating Modern Home Builders.  Many of his family members still live in homes he meticulously built with his son Bob throughout the years.  Building and renovating were things Rosie rarely stopped doing.  His can-do attitude stayed with him late into his 80’s and is a trait many family members are proud that they carry on.

Mr. Croteau is predeceased by Irene, his loving wife of 66 years, his cherished son, Bob, as well as brothers, Dominic, Henry, Paul and his sister Rita (Morrissette).

He leaves behind an adoring daughter, Jo Anne Croteau of Hooksett and a brother, Raymond Croteau of Franklin, NH; three grand-daughters: Nicole (Long) Wright and her husband Dave of Wilton, Laurie (Sanfason) Wilder and her husband Bill of Hooksett,  and Dawn (Croteau) Benoit and her husband Rob, also of Hooksett; eight great-grandchildren:  Ashley (Wilder) Peters and her husband Billy, Jarred Wilder and his wife Kristen, Taylor and Keegan Wilder, Jenna and Josh Wright, Leah and Jillian Benoit; two great-great grandchildren: Arley and Brody Peters; as well as several nieces and nephews.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone that has known and loved him.  You have all filled his heart with genuine happiness and amazing joy.  His daughter would also like to say a special thank you to her three girls, Nicole, Laurie and Dawn for all their love and support.

Graveside services with military honors will take place on Wednesday, August 2^nd at 1:00PM at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester, NH 03102.  A celebration of his life will immediately follow at his home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Honor Flight New England, PO Box 16287, Hooksett, NH 03106.