Marguerite Marie Vadnais and Robert Earl Parker (Part 3 of 3)

I am not sure when Bob and Marguerite met one another. I’m guessing that they didn’t start dating until after Bob returned from the war. From what family members have told me, Bob hung out with my Dad, Jack Vadnais and that he probably met Marguerite through Jack. Since both Bob and Marguerite were born and raised in White Bear Lake, I assume that the families at least knew of one another.

Marguerite and Bob – having fun with friends on the winter ice of White Bear Lake
Seeing the footwear that Marguerite is wearing, I imagine that Bob had a good excuse to give Marguerite a
tight squeeze just to keep her upright.

**Circa 1946 – Out for a double date: (left to right) Bob Parker, Marguerite Vadnais, Beverly (Bev) Wallerick and Jack Vadnais**
This picture was taken sometime previous to my parents’ (Bev and Jack) marriage in April 1947; my father is not yet wearing a wedding ring.²³ Bob would have been about 22 years old, Marguerite about 20 years old, Bev around 19 years old and Jack about 21 years old.

Bob and Marguerite got engaged and the wedding date was set. Marguerite would be the eighth of her 9 siblings to get married. Five of those marriages had happened since 1942.

**1948 – *White Bear Press* wedding announcement**²⁴

The wedding was held on Saturday, September 25, 1948 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, White Bear Lake. Father Louis J. Benoit officiated at the ceremony. A reception followed at Marguerite’s parents’ house less than a block from the church at 411 Bald Eagle Avenue.

**Wedding invitation for Marguerite and Bob**

**The wedding party inside St. Mary’s Church – (left to right): Dick Carlson, Lorraine Parker, Anna Mae Vadnais, Marguerite and Bob Parker, Jack Vadnais, Don Navis and Gordy Vadnais**
Anna Mae, Jack and Gordy are Marguerite’s siblings and Lorraine is one of Bob’s sisters.

**Certificate of Marriage presented to the couple by the church**

**The happily married couple – Bob and Marguerite**

**At the reception, the bride and groom with their parents**
Shown (left to right): Horatio Earl and Reina (Malzhan) Parker, Bob and Marguerite Parker and Ellen (Peltier) and Adlore Vadnais

**Having fun out on the back landing at the wedding reception – groomsmen Dick Carlson, Jack Vadnais (best man) and Gordy Vadnais with the groom, Bob Parker (in casual attire)**

**1948 *White Bear Press* description of the wedding events**²⁵

**Marguerite and Bob sometime after being married**

By the time the 1950 U.S. census was taken, Bob and Marguerite had welcomed their first child. Darlene Marie was born December 25, 1949; Marguerite was 23 years old and Bob was 25 years old.²⁶ The census shows the family living at 5141 Mead Road, White Bear Township. However, they are actually living in a small cottage behind the home, while Bob’s parents and his sister Lorraine are living in the main house. Bob has followed in his father’s footsteps as an electrician and is working with him.²⁷

**1950 U.S. Census enumerating Robert, Marguerite and Darlene**

**Early 1950 – Marguerite holding Darlene and Bob**

May 17, 1950 – (left to right) Bob holding Darlene, Marguerite holding Darlene and Darlene (about 5 months old) with her cousin David Vadnais (about 10 months old)

Over the next 5 years, the couple would welcome 3 more children: Barbara Jean on March 26, 1952, Jacque Lynn on October 29, 1953 and Robert Alan on July 18, 1955.^{28, 29, 30} Sometime during this time they moved into the house next door to Bob’s parents’ home at 5155 Mead Road.

**January 1, 1952 – Bob out for a ride in his jeep** (notice there are chains on the back tire)

**1955 – shown left to right: Bob Parker, Adlore Vadnais holding Jacque Parker, Jenny Vadnais, Celestine Peltier, Ellen Vadnais holding Barb and Darlene Parker and Marguerite Parker**
It appears that Marguerite is pregnant with Bobby.

**1960 in the driveway at 5155 Mead Road – Darlene at the back, Barb on the left, Jacque on the right and Bobby in front**

**Christmas 1960 – left to right: Darlene, Bobby, Barb and Jacque**

Around 1961 the family moved a few blocks away, to 5237 Bald Eagle Boulevard W. on Bald Eagle Lake where Bob and Marguerite would finish raising the children. I remember several occasions riding my bike down to their house in the summertime and Aunt Marguerite would be out in the lake bathing in the sunshine.

**July 2024 – 5237 Bald Eagle Boulevard W.**

**Circa 1962 – the Parker family – back row: Bob, Marguerite and Darlene and in the front: Jacque, Bobby and Barb**

**Bob enjoying snowmobiling – Bald Eagle Lake**

1960s “The Mod Squad” – Bob and Marguerite

**April 1969 – the Parker family – back row: Bob, Marguerite, Darlene, front row: Jacque, Bobby and Barb**

In 1977 Bob and Marguerite moved from their lake home to their final home at 1694 Birch Lake Avenue, White Bear Lake. The home would remain in the family until being sold in May of 2010.

**1694 Birch Lake Avenue in October 2018**

**Christmas 1979 at Marguerite’s home – Marguerite and her sisters**
Shown (left to right): Anna Mae (49 years old), Marguerite (53 years old), Leona (56 years old), Mona (58 years old) and Florence (62 years old)

**1986 – Marguerite and daughter Jacque**

**Marguerite and Bob playing a duet on the piano**

**Marguerite and Bob dancing to fiddle music**

On September 25, 1998 Bob and Marguerite celebrated 50 years of marriage.

**Certificate presented to Bob and Marguerite in celebration of 50 years of Christian marriage**

A celebration was held for Marguerite when she turned 80 years old in 2006. A “Birthday Ode to Margueritte” was placed in the White Bear Press.³¹

On Sunday, May 20, 2007 Bob passed away after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); he was 82 years, 11 months and 14 days old. His parents and younger sister Lorraine had preceded him in death and his older sister Betty died 2 months after his passing.

**Minnesota death certificate for Robert Earl Parker**

Robert Parker obituary in the *St. Paul Pioneer Press*³²

**Memorial card for Robert Earl Parker**

A gathering of family and friends was held at the funeral home, after which there was a prayer service. Bob was laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ramsey County, White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Marguerite lived about 2 more years, passing away from mesothelioma on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 82 years, 6 months and 14 days old. Her brother Jack and her sister Anna Mae were her only siblings to survive her. A mass of Christian burial was held at St. Mary of the Lake Church on Thursday, May 7, 2009. Marguerite was laid to rest next to Bob in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

**Minnesota death certificate for Marguerite Marie Parker**

Marguerite Parker obituary in the *White Bear Press*³³

**Parker gravestone at St. Mary’s Cemetery, White Bear Lake**³⁵

Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cynthia

Footnotes for Marguerite Marie Vadnais and Robert Earl Parker (Part 3 of 3) post

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