Harvey I. Nedeau, Jr.

Some men float aimlessly through life, going wherever the winds take them, content to be adrift in a sea of mediocrity. Harvey Nedeau was a man who charted his course always for the horizon, going further, faster, with a fearless heart and a thoughtful mind. Harvey I. Nedeau Jr. was a remarkable man, a loyal son, devoted husband, loving father and faithful friend, a veteran, a captain, and true leader of men. Harvey's story began on a cool spring day in 1925, in the Lakeshore town of Muskegon Michigan. Those were such exciting times in this country, the pinnacle of the Roaring 20s, when Prohibition was the law of the land, and Big Bands became the backbeat of a generation. On March 30, 1925, Harvey Sr. and Minne (Neis) Nedeau had even more to celebrate, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Harvey Jr., after his father. Harvey was the first-born child in the family, and would be joined by younger brother John and little sister Rosemary in the family's home in Muskegon Heights. Harvey's father was a entrepreneur and land owner in Muskegon, with his own successful real estate company, Harvey I. Nedeau, Inc. The elder Nedeau also was an avid sailor, one of many talents the father would pass to the son. Harvey attended St. Jeans Parish School, before becoming an excellent student at Muskegon Heights High School. Soon, however, his country would require his services, as he was drafted in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II. where he served as a medical corpsman, When he was discharged from the service, Harvey headed off to college, first at Louisiana State University, before transferring to Notre Dame, where he received his degree in Finance in 1950. He was a brilliant student, and earned a straight-A average while at Notre Dame. Degree in hand, Harvey was anxious to start his new life, and that included a new bride, as well. After his graduation, Harvey married his high school sweetheart, Barbara K. Strand, beginning many happy years together. The newlyweds built a home on Sunset Drive in North Muskegon, where they celebrated the birth of their two wonderful children, Christopher in 1952, and Polly in 1955, who brought them so much happiness. Harvey followed in his father's footsteps, joining the family business, where he specialized in commercial and industrial properties. In addition, he also taught real estate courses as a visiting professor at the University of Michigan. He and his father were an excellent team; they worked hard, they worked smart, and became very successful, both in and out of business. Harvey, his father and his brother were all avid sailors, and headed out to the lake every chance they had. Together they sailed competitively for more than 30 years, with Harvey serving as helmsman of the Romahajo II and III, as well as the Scaramouche, named after the famous swashbuckling character of the 1920s novels and 50s movie. Together the Nadeau men took the seas by storm, and were very successful in competitive sailing, winning the Chicago-Mackinac and Port Huron-Mackinac races, the Queen's Cup and competed in ocean racing off the coast of Florida, as well. Harvey was also very involved in both the Muskegon Yacht Club and the White Lake Yacht Club over the years. Just as Harvey's father literally showed him the ropes at a young age, Harvey got his own children involved in sailing, too. Barbara and the kids would often drive to the race's finish destination, to await the crew's arrival and hopefully victory celebration. Sadly, Harvey's beloved Barbara died in 1970, which he took so hard, though he wasn't meant to be alone. One evening Harvey went to Aaron's Restaurant in North Muskegon, where he spotted a lovely woman named Clara Fenwick, who was playing piano there. She was a hardworking single mother of four, a teacher by day and pianist by night. The two hit it off, dated for a year, and were married in 1973. The newlyweds and children lived at Harvey's Sunset Drive home, while Harvey's kids were by then in college. Harvey loved being a father to young children again, and took on the task of raising them with vigor. They knew him as the "ultimate" supervisor, who made sure they did their chores around the home. Harvey and Clara were also very much in love. They enjoyed their own "happy hour" together when they got home from work, an hour of peace and quiet the kids respected and left them alone. The couple was very social together, and Harvey and Clara entertained often at their home, having terrific parties full of music, good food and good times. Clara would play the piano and sing, and Harvey would get the party laughing with a salty joke or a good drink. Harvey loved it when Clara played "Spanish Eyes," his favorite song. Harvey's life changed so much after he married Clara. He spent less time sailing, and in the mid-1980s, he retired from the real estate business, too. Never one to float aimlessly, Harvey became involved in the radio broadcast business, including serving as CEO of WMUS, a local station in Muskegon. He also became chairman of the board for the Greater Muskegon Broadcasters Inc., which owns several stations in the Midwest. After Clara retired from teaching, the two wintered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which they enjoyed so much, on the water Harvey always loved. In 1998, Harvey retired for good, a well-deserved reward after a lifetime of hard work. Sadly, Harvey's beloved Clara died in 2000, after a short battle with cancer, which Harvey took so hard. He began developing health problems of his own over the next few years, as his body began failing him. His son Jack moved in with him to become his fulltime caretaker during this time, and they also adopted a neighbor's dog they called "Scout, the Wonder Dog," which was a beloved companion. Though Harvey had never had pets, he loved that dog, who was a great comfort to him in his final years. Harvey died of congestive heart failure on Friday, March 2, 2007, at the Brookhaven Nursing Home, at the age of 81. Harvey was a remarkable man, who led a remarkable life, a life so full of successes. He was a loyal son, devoted husband, loving father and faithful friend, a veteran, a captain, and leader of men. Most of all, Harvey was a man who always set sail for the horizon, needing only his heart to guide him. He will be so greatly missed. Surviving him are his brother John Nedeau (Joan) and sister, Rosemary Baty (Ray) of North Muskegon; his six children, Christopher Nedeau (Janet) of San Francisco, CA, Polly Nedeau Hess (Jim) of Sumter, S.C., Jack Fenwick (Rick) of North Muskegon, Charles Fenwick (Shelley) of Council Bluff, IA, David Fenwick (Julie) of Brighton, MI, and Leah Fenwick (Cassie) of Ravenna; his 11 grandchildren, Jennifer, Paul, and Peter Nedeau, J.W. Hess, Corey, Jillian, Lauren, Joshua, and Nathaniel Fenwick, Tyler and Trevor Baushke. Services are Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 11:00 AM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation is Monday, March 5, 2007, 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.