Haden Joseph Bourg, Sr., 90, of Nederland, died Monday, April 7, 2014, at Christus Hospital, St. Mary in Port Arthur. A native of Port Arthur, he was born June 15, 1923, to Mary Daisy Bartel and Phillip Joseph Bourg, Sr. Haden was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and later joined the United States Army Air Corps., and served during World War II. During that time, he flew several types of aircraft before being assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Air Fighter Group, flying the P51 Mustang Fighter. While performing a strafing mission in November of 1944, he went down and was taken as a prisoner of war. After the camp he was in was liberated, Haden returned to Port Arthur. He began working as an Operator with Texaco refinery, where he was previously employed before his time in the service, and would end up serving forty-one years before his retirement. Haden built a home in Nederland where he lived most of his life. He was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, serving as an extra-ordinary minister. In his spare time, Haden enjoyed carpentry work and gardening. He loved helping others and giving away the vegetables he grew.
Survivors include his sons, Haden J. Bourg, Jr., and his wife, Becky, of Keller, Conrad Bourg and his wife, Cathy, of Burleson and Conroy Bourg and his wife, Marybeth of Nederland; daughters, Patricia Duhon and her husband, Rodney, of Beaumont and Diana Licatino and her husband, Danny, of Port Arthur; twelve grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one great great-granddaughter; sisters, Zelma Welty of Port Neches, Betty Smiley of Groves and Ethel Salazar of Winnie; numerous nieces, nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mr. Bourg is preceded in death by his wife of sixty-five years, Josie Bourg; parents, Phillip Sr. and Mary Bourg; brothers, Albert, O'Neil and Phillip Bourg Jr.; sister, Bessie Davis and grandson, Conrad Bourg Jr.
A gathering of Mr. Bourg’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 11, 2014, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy Avenue, Nederland, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Port Arthur.
