Roland J. Gagnet

Roland James Gagnet of south Toledo died Tuesday, July 30. He was 82. Roland was born March 24, 1931 to Marvel M. (Dickson) and Roland E. Gagnet. He married Mary Catherine Simons, his wife of 56 years, on June 29, 1957. He studied engineering at The University of Toledo and served as a United States Army jump school instructor at Fort Bennings Ga., during the Korean War. After the war he worked as a die designer at Gerity-Schultz and later became a partner at Die Cast Die and Mold. In 1978 he became sole owner of the company and in 1991 he expanded the business and moved to a new facility in Perrysburg. He retired in 1996 when his sons Tony and Jim assumed ownership. He was a member of the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers, North American Die Cast Association and National Tooling and Machine Association. He was also a longtime member of Heather Downs Country Club, Knights of Columbus and a charter member of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Parish. In his youth he was an avid ice skater and belonged to the Toledo Figure Skating Club. He also built model airplanes and later remote controlled planes. He loved all things technical and could fix anything. He enjoyed snowmobile trips to northern Michigan and loved spending time with his family at his Bear Lake home in Hillsdale Michigan. He was a family man a good son and brother, a wonderful husband and father, and a loving and caring grandfather. Roland is survived by his loving wife Mary, his children Tony (Kelly) Gagnet, James (Nancy) Gagnet and Annette (Richard) Meklus; sister Cathy Gagnet (Mohamed Rahman); grandchildren Paul, Anna, Catherine and John Gagnet; Nicole, Ryan and Julia Gagnet; and Samantha and Daley Meklus; and several nieces and nephews. His parents and his sisters Donna Dodson and Sally Jones preceded him in death. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd. on Friday from 2-8 pm, where a scripture service will be held at 7pm. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday beginning at 9:30 am in the mortuary, followed by the Funeral Mass in St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church at 10:00 am. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Roland’s memory may be made to St. Patrick of Heatherdowns School Endowment Fund or to the donor’s choice.

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Roland J. Gagnet

March 24, 1931 - July 30, 2013