We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Joseph Marcel Poirier, CD (Ret'd) on 16 April 2022 in Halifax NS, peacefully at age 68 years. Marcel started his military career as a Combat Engineer but later remustered to Loadmaster.
Marcel was from Chéticamp, Cape Breton NS. He enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1973 and, served a varied 25-year career. Upon successful completion of his recruit training at Canadian Forces Recruit School Cornwallis in Nova Scotia, Marcel was posted to Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC in 1974 for his basic Combat Engineering training. He was then posted to 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON (1974-77) where he deployed on UN Peacekeeping duties in Cyprus in 1974 and on the United Nations Emergency Force UNEF II in Egypt in 1976.
A posting to 4 Combat Engineer Regiment in Lahr, Germany followed in 1977 and Marcel remustered to Loadmaster at the end of this tour in 1981. After completing his Basic Loadmaster Course, he was posted to 1 Air Movements Unit in Trenton followed by 450 Squadron in Edmonton AB as a Chinook Loadmaster. During this time he had many trips to Canadian Forces Station Alert as a loadmaster on the Hercs. Marcel then returned to Germany with 5 Air Movements Unit in Lahr just before the base closed in 1994. He returned to Canada and Yellowknife YK for his last posting.
Marcel retired from the Canadian Forces in 1998 and relocated to Enfield NS. He then served with the Corps of Commissioners until his health began to decline. Marcel was a lover of fiddle music and was a skilled guitar player and singer. He loved playing for anyone and everyone and especially enjoyed the jamming group he joined later in his life.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at Cole Harbour Funeral Home, 1234 Cole Harbour Road, Cole Harbour on July 23rd, 2022 from 2 to 4 pm. Burial of ashes at gravesite will take place in St. Joseph LeMoine, Cape Breton on July 30th, 2022 at 1 PM. A small luncheon to follow in Cheticamp. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Online condolences may be sent to the funeral home.
