Donald "Bonhomme" Goddeau

Donald “Bonhomme” Goddeau, 68, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on January 27, 2018 at UVM – CVPH Medical Center, Plattsburgh NY. Donald was born at home on May 26, 1949 to the late Catherine (McGee) and Albert Goddeau of Cadyville, NY.
Donald graduated from Saranac High School in Saranac, NY in 1967. He entered the Untied States Army in August 1969, and was honorably discharged in January 1971 after serving in the Vietnam War. Throughout his service to our country he earned the National Defense Service Medal, Drivers Badge with Bar, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device & 2 OS Bars. One of Donald’s most memorable moments was when he met his brother, Carl who was a United States Marine directly in the midst of the Vietnam War. Donald would share this story with all who near & dear to his heart knowing that it meant the world to him. Donald married the late, Brenda (Garrow) in a private ceremony on April 20, 1974. Together, they raised three children & celebrated 35 years of marriage prior to her death on June 2, 2009. The sun rised & set with Brenda, and the love they shared was immense.
Donald found great joy in the outdoors. He loved to hunt, fish & upon his retirement he took great pride in mowing lawns for several local customers. One of his greatest hobbies was sharing his collection of antiques, or what he called his “treasures” that were mostly found at area garage sales which quickly became his favorite weekend activity. He also found great pleasure in spending time with family & friends, having a cook out, taking long drives on the backroads while looking for deer, playing bingo, listening to country music on his patio & he will always be remembered for his love of dancing. Donald will be fondly remembered for his “bonhomme-isms”, and for always being the life of any party. One of his favorite songs was, “God is Great, Beer is Good & People are Crazy” which you would often find him singing, or simply just vocalizing the truth behind those words on any given day.
Donald started his career at Diamond International, and CIL. In 1984, he became a corrections officer through The New York State Department of Corrections at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, NY where he dedicated of himself for 23 years retiring in July of 2007.
Donald was an active member of the West Plattsburgh American Legion Post 1619, American Legion Post 20, VFW Post 125, and the Plattsburgh Moose Lodge.
Along with his wife, Donald is predeceased by his daughter, Sara Goddeau, his parents, Catherine & Albert Goddeau, and his mother & father in law, Joan (Dukette) & Joseph Garrow, and their son Mark Garrow.
Donald is survived by his lady friend & companion, Phyllis Griffin, his daughter Dawn (William) Perry of Saranac, his son Mark Goddeau of Plattsburgh, his brother Everest (Theresa) Goddeau of Lake Placid, his brother Carl (Gloria) Goddeau of Cadyville, his sister Barbara (John) Hugus of Cadyville, brother-in-law Brent (Kathleen) Garrow of Plattsburgh, brother-in-law Keith (Tina) Garrow of Plattsburgh, sister-in-law Cheryl (Garrow) Mangum of Dannemora, his grandchildren Cheyenne Goddeau & her fiancée Donald Byers III of Dannemora, Liam & Laila Perry both of Saranac, and his two month old great grandson Ahriyan Frank Leon Byers who he proudly called, “The Nugget”, and several nieces, nephews & cousins.
A celebration of Donald’s life will be held at the VFW Post 125 on Boynton Avenue, Plattsburgh at 1pm, February 11th 2018.
A graveside service with full military honors will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or to his family.
Arrangements are entrusted to Heald Funeral Home. Please share a story, or view his online guest book at www.healdfuneralhomeinc.com