DONALD JOHN LaFLECHE

Donald John “Don” LaFleche, 92, of Alpena, passed away on Feb. 24, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Don was born on June 6, 1931, in Royston, to the late Alphonse and Elizabeth (Creamer) LaFleche. He grew up on the family dairy farm with his 13 siblings driving Farmall tractors, milking cows, and working the hay fields. He served in the United States Army directing artillery as a sergeant during the Korean Conflict and returned to Alpena after his service in 1954. He started working at Stoneport as a millwright in 1955 and retired as an electrician in 1994.

Don married Joan Keegan on May 14, 1955, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hillman and the couple honeymooned in Newberry, having taken the car ferry across the Straits while the Mackinac Bridge was being built. They had five daughters and Don made it his priority to spend every vacation traveling the country with his family.

Don was a family man and kept in close touch with all his brothers and sisters, calling them on every birthday. He was very sociable and enjoyed meeting new people. He liked reading about history, watching Westerns, and solving the daily Sudoku puzzle in the newspaper. He enjoyed camping, casino stops, working in his yard and garden, and was proud to have visited every state except Alaska.

He was a member of All Saints of Alpena, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, and VFW Alpena Post 2496. He called Bingo two nights a week for many years at the VFW and K-of-C halls. Don will be missed by his loving family.

Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Joan; five daughters, Debbie Frantz, Lori (Mark) Werda, Diane (Tim) Taber and Julie LaFleche of Alpena, and Jane (Larry) Snyder of Remus; 11 grandchildren, Ashley (Matt) Burg, Travis (Anna) Wyman, Chelsea (Chris) Engle, Allison Modrzynski, Trevor (Andrea) Frantz, Brett (Jennifer) Werda, Brad Cousineau, Jayne Cousineau, Keegan (Ashlee) Taber, Brady Taber and Logan Snyder; 14 great-grandchildren; nine siblings, Betty Dubie, Albert LaFleche, Kenneth (Geri) LaFleche, Patrick (Sue) LaFleche, Mert (Jacki) LaFleche, Glen (Karen) LaFleche, Rosemary (Art) Hunt, Peggy (Jim) Cavanagh and Alphonse LaFleche, Jr.; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. LaFleche was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Thomas Frantz; four siblings, George (Dorothy) LaFleche, Joseph (Lorene) LaFleche, Gerald (Elaine) LaFleche, Mary Ann (Gary) Brown; sister-in-law, Marjean LaFleche and brother-in-law, Donald Dubie.

Memorial visitation will take place at the Bannan Funeral Home on Wednesday, from 2 to 8 p.m. with military honors by VFW Alpena Post at 5 p.m., Fourth Degree Color Corp Honor Guard at 6 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. Memorial visitation will continue on Thursday at St. Anne Church of All Saints Parish from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Tyler Bischoff officiating. Inurnment is at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan or All Saints of Alpena.