Mr. George A. Croteau Jr, 93, of 75 Sprague St., West Springfield, died peacefully on Thursday, Dec 19 ^th at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, MA with his beloved daughter Sherry Dearden by his side. Born in Springfield, MA, George grew up in East Longmeadow until the age of 16 at which time he completed the 9 ^th grade and went to work, helping to support his beloved mother and siblings. In 1944, at the age of 18, due to World War II, he was drafted into the Army. After boot camp, in 1945, he was deployed to the Philippines. There he served in the 742 ^nd and 738 ^th Military Police units until returning home to Springfield in 1946.  Within a couple of years he met his first wife and together, in 1948, they had a daughter, Nadine (Croteau) Conder. They divorced in 1950 and when asked why, he'd reply "we were just so young." Later, he met the love of his life, his sweetheart, Theresa (Wells) Croteau. They met in a bar where George and his buddies had gone for a couple of stiff drinks, after working. Theresa was there with her mother, Gerty, making sure her husband Mr. Wells didn't spend all of his money buying drinks for other patrons. When George walked in and saw Terry sitting there, wearing a long black winter jacket with a white fur collar, he yelled, "hey what'd you do skin a cat!?" Terry quickly responded "shut up you jerk" and then leaned over to her mom and said, "I'm going to marry that guy." George worked for Moore Drop Forge in Springfield MA as a machinist and assembler in the tool-making industry for 32.5 years and retired in 1990. It wasn't long after his retirement that his wife Theresa volunteered him to work for the Town of West Springfield as a bus monitor. George didn't mind though, he always loved children and he hoped his presence on the alternative school bus made a positive impact on the students' lives. George and Terry enjoyed nearly 66 years of marriage before she passed in January of 2018, and together they had three children, whom George absolutely adored. George leaves a total of four children and their spouses, Nadine & Jim Conder; Gary Croteau; Larry & Elizabeth Croteau (& her sister Donna); Sherry & Wayne Dearden; and although he was the oldest of six, he is predeceased by his parents Helen (Walsh) Croteau & George Croteau Sr as well as all five siblings & their spouses Paul Croteau; Carl & Bunny Croteau; Theresa & Bud Dupre; Les and Pat Croteau; and Joyce & Frank Carney. He is also predeceased by his son Gary's first wife Debora Ann Croteau, whom George adored and missed dearly. He is also predeceased by his dear friend Red Dulude.   In 2019, after submitting a dna test to ancestry, George was surprised to learn he had a "baby" brother, more nieces and more great nephews and niece. Gerald Stevens of Greenwood, Maine traveled down to meet George and they became fast friends and timeless-brothers; checking in by phone, weekly and squeezing in as many visits as possible. You never know what the years have in store for you, keep the faith that you and your time here are on purpose.  In addition to his children, George is also survived by  8 grandchildren and their spouses Jason Croteau & his partner Courtney Ragion [also Pops favorite new barber]; Melanie and Junie Perez, Jamielee Croteau & Steve Clark, Benjamin Croteau, David & Michelle Dearden; William Dearden;  Jadine (Conder) & Justin Wells; James & Cheryl Conder III;  and 13 great grandchildren, Ashleigh Croteau & her mother Jennifer, Brianna & her mother Catherine & Matt Hanlon & her sons Joe & Kody, Devlin and Charleigh Croteau & their mother Lindsay Folsom; Manny Perez;  Drew & Jax Dearden and  Gianna Dearden; Jamie & Jason Hohn; Austin Wells, James & Kendra Wells, Ariel & Neil Bruner; Karla Fuller-Palmer & Brandon Fitzsimons. George also leaves 6 great-great grandchildren, Trenton, Trinity, Jayden, Jordan, Dallis, & Audrina; as well as 36 dearly beloved nieces & nephews; and more than 20 great-nieces and great-nephews and their children; and friends, especially Dale Flowers of TN . George loved all three pets he had throughout the years (Lollipop & Ashley) but his Punkin girl was his doggie soul mate, who many would often see him walking on Union Street. He loved fishing with his children and grandkids and his friend Dale. He also was an avid Redsox fan, and loved the Patriots and the Celtics too. He always fondly thought back to the annual family trips to Crystal Lake in Ellington, CT where family and friends would gather throughout those two weeks each summer. He also loved going to all of the places Terry wanted to go, especially to Bingo at the West Springfield Senior Center, or anywhere his daughter Sherry and niece Ginny would take him to play. He loved going out to breakfast with anyone who would take him and he loved going for rides around the towns, oftentimes late at night when most people his age had been in bed for hours. Above all, George sincerely loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who he always referred to as "honey girl" or "honey boy." Although it was later in life that he was able to reconnect with his child and family in Arkansas, he was very grateful for the opportunity. George didn't put up with any nonsense but he had the softest, most sappy heart, and you would often catch him shedding tears of empathy or joy at things most people might not pay any mind.  He had his serious side, but he loved to catch you with an offhand, quick-witted joke or prank and he loved to laugh. All of his life he attended and served the Catholic church and was a communicant of St. Louis de France Church and later, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, West Springfield. George received honors for serving as an altar boy for nearly 75 years. To say we're going to miss (just about) everything about him, is an understatement, but we all feel truly blessed and grateful to have had him for 93 years. The funeral will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Tuesday, Dec. 31 ^st at 10:00am followed by burial in the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery.  Visiting hours will be held Monday, Dec. 30 ^th from 4:00 – 7:00pm.  For more details please visit curranjones.com.  In lieu of flowers, go out and perform some noteworthy act of kindness, courage or character so that George can look upon you with love in his heart and tears of joy in his eyes.