William Charles " Charlie" Gagnon

William Charles “Charlie” Gagnon, 82, of Manhattan since 2000 and formerly of Salina, passed away Thursday October 29th, while in the company of family members at his residence. He was the former owner of the Ballou Construction Company in Salina, retiring in 1995. Charlie was born in Salina, KS on July 7, 1933, son of the late Alphonse E. and Regina (LeBlanc) Gagnon. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Salina, where he later served as a board member, President of the Endowment Fund and Co-Founder of the Bishop George Fitzsimons Golf Tournament benefiting the fund. He was recognized as Distinguished Alumni for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater in 1987. Charlie proudly served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 and received the National Defense Medal. He attended Kansas State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. On May 9, 1964 he was united in marriage to Brenda Zorn at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina. Charlie was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan and was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Council 601. He was Past President of the International Slurry Surfacing Association and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Kansas Contractors Association. Survivors include his wife Brenda of the home; three sons Tony (Rhonda Reed) Gagnon, of Lenexa, KS; Andy Gagnon, of Manhattan; John (Monnette) Gagnon, of Andover. He is also survived by 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, and 2 sisters. A parish rosary will be recited at 7:30 pm, Wednesday Nov. 4th at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home with Deacon Chad Stramel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Catholic Church at 11:00 am on Thursday November 5th with Father Frank Coady officiating. The casket will remain closed and cremation will follow the funeral mass. Inurnment will be at a later date at the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Salina. Anyone wishing to commemorate his memory may do so with a contribution in his name to Sacred Heart Jr./Sr. High School Endowment Fund, 320 E. Cloud, Salina, KS 67401 or Manhattan Catholic Schools Endowment Fund, 306 Juliette Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502. For more information, to send an e-mail condolence or a gift for the family, visit the funeral home web site www.irvinparkview.com