Richard “Dick” Poissant, 89 year old resident of St. Cloud, Minnesota, formerly of Little Falls, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the St. Cloud Hospital.
A Mass of Christian Burial took place at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 22, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, Minnesota, with Father David Maciej officiating. Burial took place in the Holy Family Parish Cemetery in Belle Prairie.
A visitation was held Sunday, April 21, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, and on Monday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Caring for Dick and his family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.
Dick was born on Jan. 18, 1935 in Brainerd, Minnesota to the late Henry and Lucille (DeRosier) Poissant. He grew up in the Brainerd area where he attended school and graduated from high school. He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Joyce Schreiner on Sept. 6, 1958 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve, then in 1961 he was called to duty until 1963. Dick worked for Henry Mills Sr., the original owner of Mills Fleet Farm after High School and after his discharge from the Army he returned to work for the Mills family managing their store in Wadena. After working in Wadena for a short time he moved to Little Falls. Then in 1963 he opened the Little Falls Fleet Supply and began operating his own store. In 1973 he built the new store on the west side of Little Falls. This venture led Dick and his two sons Brian and Brad to open their own Fleet Supply Stores in Aitkin and Cambridge.
In 2000, Dick sold his store and began enjoying his retirement. During retirement, Dick and Joyce made family their number one priority. They attended their grandchildren’s school events including concerts and all of their sporting activities. They never missed a game. Dick loved hunting in northern Minnesota and fishing in Canada. He had a love for woodworking, reading western books, and enjoyed working in his yard. He and Joyce along with the family spent lots of time at the family cabin on Gilbert Lake in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Dick enjoyed snowmobiling and four wheeling with family at their hunting cabin over the years. Dick also volunteered many hours of his time at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie and the Little Falls Lions Club. He served in various roles in these organizations throughout his time with them. Due to his dedication to the Little Falls Lions Club he was awarded the Melvin Jones Award. Dick also served on the Board of Directors at the First National Bank in Little Falls. Dick was a jack-of-all-trades and to his family he was a master of many. He was dearly loved and will be remembered for his strong faith and dedication to family and friends.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Joyce of St. Cloud; children, Brian Poissant of Sartell, and Barbara (Derek) Groth of Annandale; daughter-in-law, Shari Poissant of St. Cloud; brother, Donald (Phyllis) Poissant of North Branch; grandchildren, Kayla (Alex) Gassner of Wausau, Wisconsin, Hannah (fiance Brent Lundquist) Groth of Litchfield, Christopher (Rachel) Groth of Richmond, MN and Jennah Groth of Litchfield; and great-grandchildren, Phillip and Nathaniel Gassner.
He was preceded in death by parents, Henry and Lucille Poissant; son, Bradley Poissant and grandson, Kory Poissant.
Arrangements are by Shelley Funeral Chapels, www.shelleyfuneralchapels.com or 320-632-5242.