Jack B. Houle

Jack B. Houle, 86 year old resident of Little Falls, MN and Sarasota, FL, passed away November 19, 2009, peacefully at his home in Sarasota, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Nick Landsberger officiating. Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Little Falls. Vistitation will be held Friday from 4:00-8:00 P.M. and Saturday from 8:00-9:30 A.M. at the Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls. Parish Prayers will be said at 5:30 P.M. Friday evening at the funeral chapel followed by Knights of Columbus Office for the Dead 6:30 P.M. Military rites will be conducted by the Little Falls American Legion Post #46. Jack B. Houle was born September 26, 1923, to the late Jacob and Edna (Bastien) Houle in Ripley Township, Morrison County, MN. He grew up in Ripley Township where he attended country school. Jack graduated from Little Falls High School in 1941. He attended the University of Minnesota from 1941 to 1942 and Hursh Business College in Duluth, MN from 1946 to 1947. He began serving in the United States Navy in 1944 and received an Honorable Discharge in 1946. Jack was united in marriage to Mabel Gaboury of Brainerd, MN on November 20, 1945, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, MN. They had two children, son, Howard and daughter, Jacqueline, who passed away in March of 1975. Jack owned and operated Falls Electric Company of Little Falls from 1958 until retiring in 1990. Prior to purchasing the electric company, Jack was employed for various periods of time from 1947 to 1958 by Milt Johnson's Auto Service, Agents of State Farm Insurance and DeRosier Electric. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls where he served as an usher for 35 years, member of St. Mary's Cemetery Board from 1978-2009 and served as Past President of St. Mary's Home and School Association. He was a member of the Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #1804, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Msgr T. Leo Keaveny Assembly, Little Falls American Legion Post #46, National Electrical Contractors Association, Little Falls Rotary Club where he served as President in 1965-1966. Jack was also a past Director of the Little Falls Chamber of Commerce. Jack is survived by his wife, Mabel, of Little Falls, MN; son, Howard & special friend, Patty Boll, of Sarasota, FL. granddaughter, Tracie (Scott) Atkinson of Little Falls, MN; great-grandchildren, Levi, Logan and Landon Atkinson of Little Falls, MN; sister, DeEtta Gilson of Little Falls and sister-in-law, Joanne Houle of Little Falls, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Edna (Bastien) Houle; daughter, Jacqueline Dreiling; sister, Donna Lou Nelson and brother, Willard Houle.