Irvin "Big One" Lagrange

Graveside services will be held for Irvin “Big One” Lagrange at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 7, 2022 at Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery.  Deacon Jerome Collins will conduct the service.

Mr. Lagrange, age 91, died on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, in Broussard, LA.

Irvin was a native of Port Barre, LA and made Opelousas his home upon retirement from the US Army on February 28, 1973. In his last few years, he became a resident of Broussard.

Before entering the service, he worked in the oil field for Fred Wyble and Latex Rig Building out of Lafayette, LA. He was drafted in November 1952 and served 18 months in Fort Chaffee, AR and Korea. He reenlisted and made a career in the military serving until his retirement on February 28, 1973 at Fort Knox, KY with a rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC – E7).

The US Army awarded him for his outstanding service with the following:

The Bronze Star Medal
First Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Good Conduct Medal 6th Award
National Defense Service Medical with 1 Bronze Star
Presidential Unit Citation
Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Service medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry cross Unit Citation
Korea Defense Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Veterans Honor Medal by the State of Louisiana

Upon military retirement he went to plumbing school at TH Harris and drove a school bus for St Landry Parish School Board until he went to work for Coburn supply in 1975 until his retirement in December 1992, then went into the sewer treatment plant business until his final retirement in December 2002.

Survivors are his two sons, Glenn Lagrange and wife, Pat, of Tampa, FL; Kevin Lagrange of Clearwater, FL; his two daughters, Karen Cox and husband, Larry, of Broussard, LA and Lori Dekelegand, of Opelousas, LA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren Chris Wyble, Alison and Dustin Higginbotham, Casey and Michael Lagrange, Blake Guillory, and Jade Valin; two step-grandchildren Colleen and Nash Cox; eight great-grandchildren Jack and Maeve Higginbotham, Carder, Skylynn and Chad Guillory, Camille and Saige Valin, Ryder Lagrange, and two step-great-grandchildren Landon and Logan Valin; his brother Joe Kelly and wife Barbara of Opelousas, sister Verna Kelly Vidrine of Opelousas, sisters-in-law, Mavis Deville Kelly of Opelousas, Nicole M. Meche of Lafayette and Bobbie Jones of Lafayette; brothers-in-laws, Robert Henry Jones of Broussard and Don Jones of Milton.

Irvin was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Joyce Bodin Lagrange, his second wife Nanette Jones Lagrange, his mother Esther Duplechain Lagrange Kelly, his father Atelismar “AC” Lagrange and his brother Lawrence Kelly.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Opelousas Cerebral Palsy Clinic, PO Box 1192, Opelousas, LA 70571-1192.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, (337) 942-2638, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

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