Wade Louis Venissat, Jr.

Wade Louis Venissat, Jr., 70, a native and life resident of Sulphur, LA, died on September 9, 2015, in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Lafayette, LA. Mr. Venissat was the only child of Wade L. Venissat, Sr. and Beulah Lyons Venissat and graduated from Sulphur High School in 1962. He was a trumpet soloist with the Sulphur High School Golden Tornado Band. Living with the firm belief that education and learning are lifetime endeavors, he attended McNeese State University earning an Associate's Degree in General Studies, Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Psychology, English, Liberal Studies, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. He also received a Master's Degree in Psychology. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (ULL), receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. In college, he was active in fraternities and student government. He was a member of the Deacon's Social Fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity-Epsilon Psi chapter at McNeese and the OK chapter at USL (ULL). Mr. Venissat served as a student senator at McNeese from 1968-1973 and was Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. In 1974, he was selected as Outstanding Senator of the Year. His love of helping people drove him to become a licensed mental health counselor, specializing in solution-focused brief therapy. He was well respected in counseling circles because of his cool head in critical situations. He was a Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He also received a certification in Mediation with a specialty in Divorce Mediation from Loyola University in New Orleans; a certification in Addiction Studies from Tulane School of Social Work and Certified by the American Red Cross as a Specialist in Disaster related Mental Health. Mr. Venissat was a member of the American Psychotherapy Association (APA), Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA), LPC's of SWLA-Lake Charles, Chi Sigma Iota, Mensa, Intertel, the International Association for Philosophical Inquiry (ISPE), Triple Nine and MENSA. His professional career included thirty years with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, District 07, including three years with the Department of Employment Security. In spite of his constant pursuit of studies and education, Mr. Venissat was an avid writer (short stories, poetry, and plays) and reader. He enjoyed all types of puzzles, collecting stamps, bowling, and locksmithing. He was an accomplished and talented musician since his days at Sulphur High School in addition to serving as a trumpet soloist from 1961-1962, including being a member of the Louisiana State Inter-Collegiate Band in 1964-1968. He was widely recognized as a pit trumpet soloist for the Lake Charles Little Theatre and Acts performances of "Carnival", "Brigadoon", Once Upon a Mattress", "Stop the World" and "The Sound of Music" among many others. Mr. Venissat was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, Anna Trosclair and Cyprien O. Venissat and Mary Duhon and Walter Lyons. He is survived by his wife of thirty-eight years, Mauria Dickson Venissat; a Godson, Ian Stroh; his aunt, Mrs. Oliver Morrison; an uncle, Leroy Lyons; many cousins and friends as well as his loving pet dog, Bibi. His great stories and sense of humor will be missed by all. The family would like to thank Louisiana State Police, especially the Troop D family, Oschner Medical Center, New Orleans, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Lafayette, Acute Medical Care of Lafayette, Acadian Ambulance Air Med, Louisiana State Police, Troop D Chaplain, the Rev. Jeffery Ralston, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and their Chaplain, Dr. Bart Leger, and Dr. Terry Welke and his staff at the Calcasieu Parish Coroner's Office. Mr. Venissat believed that even in death learning can continue. In keeping with that thought, his body was donated to the Louisiana Department of Anatomy, Board of Anatomical Research.