Rene Pelletier

René William Pelletier, 91, of Osceola, Wisconsin, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Born on Bastille Day (July 14), 1934, in Walhalla, N.D., to parents Hector and Yvonne (Gendreau), Rene spent the next 91 years living an extraordinary life. He attended the University of North Dakota as an undergraduate and eventually was accepted to medical school there. While in medical school, he met the love of his life, Barbara Furin, of Hibbing, Minnesota. They married on June 30, 1962, before heading to Portland, Oregon, where René did his medical internship. Ultimately specializing in ophthalmology, René settled in St. Paul, Minnesota, as a partner in the St. Paul Eye Clinic, which continues to operate and grow across the Twin Cities.

René and Barbara had two children, several dogs, a lake house, and many cherished memories. Besides practicing medicine, René enjoyed the outdoors, including fishing, hunting, and canoeing. He especially cherished “Camp Washkish,” a hunting camp he built with friends on Lake Vermilion in the 1970s. He visited the “shack” as recently as 2024, where he would tell stories about past hunts and great times.

René was very good with his hands, which made him an excellent eye surgeon, but his handiness did not stop there. A farm boy at heart, René could fix almost anything, which led to his collection of antique tractors and cars. Every summer, he showcased his collection in the annual Wanderoos, Wisconsin, Fourth of July parade.

René’s good humor, warmth, kindness, and affection for others left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. No matter where he was—at church, the hardware store, or an Osceola High School basketball game—he frequently ran into neighbors, friends, or former patients, which often sparked long conversations about all sorts of topics. Everyone who knew René respected and cared for him profoundly. He had a special love for his grandchildren – Madeleine Pelletier of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Henry Pelletier of West Hartford, Connecticut. He was a doting grandfather who closely followed them from childhood into adulthood. He greatly enjoyed their visits to his house on Big Lake. René lived an extraordinary life. We will deeply miss him.

René is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter Ann (Rosalind Shore); son Steven (Jennifer); grandchildren, Madeleine and Henry; brother Paul (Gladys); sisters, Judy McDonald and Sharon Agar; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Tom; sister Mary Ann Bertlin; and brothers-in-law, David McDonald and Warren Agar.

Funeral services for René will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Assumption Catholic Church in East Farmington, Wisconsin, with visitation one hour prior. There will also be an evening visitation Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Grandstrand Funeral Home of Osceola, Wisconsin, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to your local food shelf.

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