Retired Air Force Colonel Marcel A. Couture, age 79, of O'Fallon, Ill. born February 15, 1934 in Somersworth, N.H., passed away at his home on Sunday, October 20, 2013 after a long struggle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Col. Couture served his country for 30 years in the US Air Force, was awarded the Bronze Star, and spent 5 years in the civilian work force. He attended the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. where he is in their Hall of Fame for playing football and achieving a football record that hasn't been broken since the 1950s. He also was on the UNH track team. After graduating, he trained to be a navigator in the United States Air Force. He left that field to work as an Air Traffic Controller and later becoming the Commander of the Air Traffic System in Europe and the United States. He retired from the military in 1987.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Jeannette, nee Gorman, Couture, of O'Fallon, Ill., three children Susan Couture Ledbury of Reading, Pa., Diane Couture Maunz of Yorktown, Va., and David Couture of O'Fallon, Ill., grandchildren Christopher Maunz of Yorktown, Va., Michael Maunz of Washington, D.C., Kaylee Maunz of Yorktown, Va., Amanda and Rebecca Couture of O'Fallon, Ill., brother Roger Couture of Berwick, Maine; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Private burial will take place next spring at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Somersworth, N.H.