Archille Dick Paquette
November 12, 2010
Paquette, Archille “Dick”, 67, retired from a career in aviation in 1999 and passed away Friday, November 12, 2010. Service, 1 p.m., Tuesday, November 16, Downing Lahey Mortuary West. Graveside service, 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, Leavenworth (KS) National Cemetery. Dick grew up in Michigan where he graduated from Concord High School in 1961 and attended Albion College. Upon graduation, he pursued his pilots license and became employed by Continental Airlines in 1966. Later that year he was drafted into the Army and in 1967 attended infantry officer candidate school in Ft. Benning, GA. During his tenured military career, he served as platoon leader of the 2nd of the 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam where he was wounded in action in 1968 and was awarded the Purple Heart and numerous other medals. Dick was sent to a U.S. military base in Japan to recover from his wounds. He later was assigned as a pilot to a 2-star general in Korea where he flew a Beech King Air 90. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Aecha. They were married in 1971. From 1973-1975, he served in the Panama Canal Zone as the Armys Director of Aviation Budgeting for all 27 military airports throughout Central and South America. In 1977, Dick and his family moved to Kansas so he could continue to pursue his love of flying. During a 22-year career with Air Midwest Airlines (1977-1999), he worked his way up from co-pilot to president of the company from which he retired. He was also president of Florida Gulf Airlines based in Jacksonville, FL. During his retirement, he and his wife traveled extensively around the world, and he and his son spent a great deal of time enjoying his other passion which was railroading. Dick is survived by his wife, Aecha, of the home; son, James and wife, Josie, of Clovis, NM; daughter, Catherine Griffith and husband, Phil of Roseda, CA; grandson, Avery; brothers, Charles and Edwin Paquette. Memorials to Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67202.
Graveside Service, 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, November 17, Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery
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You had so many plans and yet had little time. Your body stays here down on Earth but you spirit lives on in heaven. rest in peace my only grandpa
Dick Paquette, Husband, father, friend & soldier! Dick was our Platoon Leader in Vietnam in 1968. A rare officer who cared more for his men then hisself: 3-6: SFC Smith SSG Galarneau SGT Teague SGT Rhode SGT Friend SGT Pitz SP4 Trippett SP4 Foulkes SP4 Kyles SP4 Militante SP4 Weston SP4 Neidens SP4 McElwain SP4 Whitmarsh The men in your platoon and FO Crabtree SALUTE YOU!
Farewell Dick, a trusted friend and great leader. Thank you for all you did for the Air Midwest family. My greatest sympathy for all his family and friends.
Uncle Dick you were the man my father looked up to. As the eldest you demonstrated hard work, a big heart, and a brilliant mind that my dad always appreciated and admired. As an uncle you showed my brother and I the wonder of locomotives, the strength of brotherly love, and how a good sense of humour can improve most situations. You were loved, you are loved, and that love will never disappear. We are proud to say that you were our brother, our uncle, and our friend.
Dick, You were an awesome pilot and one of the most kindhearted persons that I ever had the pleasure to work with. Even though I hadn’t seen you in a long time, I’ll never forget you. Thanks for the memories. God Bless you and your family! Rest assured God is waiting for you at the gates!
I could not have asked for a better father than you. The time we shared together, be it from when I was a little boy sitting on the back of your bike as you peddled around town, to those lazy Sunday afternoons in Augusta along the tracks watching countless trains go by, or to the time I got to realize my dream of looking out at you from the locomotive cab as I roll by, I will always cherish. I will forever be proud to be called your son.
We are so proud to have known you Dick. Our Daughter had the Best Father-in-law ever. You will be greatly missed! Love and Many Blessings to you and your Family.
Your Husband,Father,Platoon leader, pilot and friend…all the titles Dick had the one that he had for me was the President of Air Midwest/friend…I had the privilege of working with Dick from 86-until he retired…it is very true he took care of his pilots…once a pilot always one. May God bless your family at this time for no words can express how you feel to have lost a great man. PRAYERS AND PEACE
Aecha, James, and Catherine Your husband and father was a very special person to me. This last Veteran’s Day, he and Ed Whitmarsh and I spent a few hours together, reminiscing, talking about family and generally just loving each other. When I asked if James was still engineering a locomotive, his eyes lit up so much. He was proud that he and Aecha got to paint the house. He talked about Catherine and how things were going in California. Even through some very rough and scary times in Viet Nam, Dick was always calm, protective of his platoon. Always, always, always, if he thought the ‘higher ups’ were putting his men at unnecessary risk, Dick would protect his men; and take any ‘chewing out’ with the knowledge that his platoon would do anything necessary to accomplish the mission; but that he was not going to let them take unnecessary risk. I have so many fond memories of those few short months we shared quarters. God bless each and every one of you. Charley Crabtree
My dear father-in-law Dick was one gentle bear. There isn’t anyone who could tell a story like him. I would listen to him for hours. He loved his son so much. I have never witnessed a relationship between a father and son like theirs. As I look through his photo albums, I see pictures of someone who lead a full, productive, happy life. There will never be another like him. I am missing my ‘Pops’ right now, but I will carry wonderful memories forever. I have peace in my heart that he is with ‘The man upstairs’ as he would call him.
I cherish the times that I was able to spend with Dick. We served together in 1968 in Viet Nam. I was with him when he was wounded and put him on the medevac helicopter. No platoon leader ever cared more for his men than Dick paquette. One of those men, Ed Whitmarsh, and I spent several hours on Veteran\’s Day with Dick. Both of us will cherish those hours we had with Dick the day before he died.
My family and I feel very honored to have met and become aquainted with Mr. Paquette. He was such a nice and genuine man. We are so blessed to be a part of your family and consider your family a part of ours. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this hard time.