Mike Doucette, Little Falls Council, president dies
Mike Doucette, Little Falls City Council president, died suddenly Wednesday at St. Cloud Hospital.
He was 60 years old.
Doucette was being treated for a recently discovered liver cancer that spread rapidly. Twelve days passed from the date of his diagnosis to his death.
A man who was devoted to his family and his community, Doucette spent much of his life in public service.
"Monday nights we always knew where Dad was," Cheryl Moore said of her father's longtime city council service.
Doucette served on the Little Falls City Council for nearly 30 years, serving 26 years as council president.
Submitted Photo
Lori Kasella, city finance director, said Doucette started on the council in 1981 and she started working for the city a year later. Kasella said Doucette served on various committees through the years, including the Economic Development Authority, Housing Redevelopment Authority, Little Falls Morrison County Rural Development Finance Authority, the Highway 27 Task Force and on the city's Personnel Committee and Public Works Committee. Doucette also was a member of the American Legion Club and Little Falls Chamber of Commerce.
"Mike was a big promoter of the community and he really looked out for the best interest of the city," said Kasella. "Issues relating to economic development and the housing authority were his biggest (concerns). He wanted to promote growth in the community.
"He was always willing to look at things open-minded. He was a honest person, he loved his family and grandkids and he was an all-around good guy and caring person. He will be missed on this city council. He had a lot of knowledge and history and he worked very hard to make the council work together. He had been a rock on the council."
Jerry Lochner, city public works director since 1973, said: "Mike and his leadership will be missed greatly. He was active and knowledgeable in many aspects of government that many people took for granted. He was a natural leader and served Little Falls in many ways.
"It's hard to believe he's gone. He was a good guy."
Moore said her father was approachable on any subject and would take time to talk to people, follow-up on a concern or explain the reasons behind a council decision. Moore said her father was devoted to finding solutions to help people.
Family described Doucette as a man with a good sense of humor who had a high-profile position in the city, but who never sought the spotlight for himself.
"He really liked helping people," his son, Brian, said. "He loved speaking up for people and being that voice."
Mike Doucette worked for many years at Camp Ripley and before that worked for more than 20 years at the former Munsingwear plant. A sports fan, Doucette loved the Vikings. He enjoyed playing Texas Hold 'Em and solitaire on his computer. He was an avid reader, sometimes reading a book a day. Doucette recently traveled with his son to meet Vince Flynn, a favorite author, at a book signing.
But most of all, Doucette enjoyed spending time with his five grandchildren. It was his favorite pastime, Brian Doucette said.
"His most prized thing was to be a grandpa," Moore said.
Brian Doucette said his father worked to help others succeed. When the family came back from the hospital in St. Cloud, they found a message on their father's answering machine with a positive update on the effort to bring many jobs to the city in boat manufacturing.
"He didn't get to hear that message," Brian Doucette said. "He cared about this town a lot."
Little Falls Mayor Cathy VanRisseghem said she had known Mike Doucette for about 25 years, working with him in the community through the tourism bureau and then on the council for the past few years.
"I had a good relationship with Mike," said VanRisseghem. "He was the calming affect on the council. He would sit back, listen and he wouldn't comment until he heard the whole story. Then he'd comment if he wanted to. He was my mentor. He's been around awhile and he knew everything. When issues came up he'd remember them. He also knew exactly what we could do as a council, which was especially helpful four years ago when we had five new council members.
"This is such a great loss to the community. Unbelievable. He will be greatly missed. When I would get all riled up at a council meeting, he'd tap me on the leg to let me know that I should calm down. I told him he could do that."
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.