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Paul LaPlante

July 20, 1941 - September 25, 2007
Kalamazoo, MI

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Visitation

Thursday, September 27, 2007
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Visitation

Thursday, September 27, 2007
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Service

Friday, September 28, 2007
1:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Reverence Home Health & Hospice
1521 Gull Rd., Ste 405
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269) 343-1396

Please make checks payable to the Borgess Foundation. The funds will be directed to the Hospice that took care of Paul and his family.

Driving Directions
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

VanderSalm's Flipse
1120 S. Burdick
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(800) 232-7134
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Live well, love much, laugh often - that is how Paul LaPlante lived every day of his life. He understood the value of hard work and knew how to persevere through difficult circumstances. Yet, Paul was a man who knew how to have a good time. He loved sharing his love for life with his family and friends, whether by making them laugh or simply by expressing it in his every day actions.

The first years of the 1940s marked a tumultuous decade for America, as well as for the rest of the world. In Europe, fighting erupted between Allied and Axis forces and America would soon be drawn into this conflict by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was into this chaotic world that Paul was born on July 20, 1941, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Francis and Beatrice (Coates) LaPlante. With nine brothers and sisters, Paul had plenty of opportunity to create unforgettable childhood memories. All boy, Paul was full of spunk and “fun” was his middle name; there wasn’t anything he didn’t have fun doing. In fact, in junior high, he was the yo-yo champion. For education, Paul attended the Kalamazoo Public Schools.

In 1960, Paul’s life took a new direction when he married Judyth, and they had four wonderful children together: Christopher, Ken, Jodi and Paul James. Although his marriage to Judyth ended in divorce, Paul always took an active role in his children’s lives. From 4-H and cheerleading to football games and school activities, his passion was to support his family.

Into our lives rain comes once in a while, so that we can greet the sunny days with a smile. For Paul, a devastating “rain” came into his life when his oldest son, Christopher, died in 1994. That same year, he also retired from General Motors after 25 years as a welder. Then the sun once again came shining through for Paul in 1995, when he met a wonderful lady named Deanna Oberlin through some friends. They fell hopelessly in love and were married that same year.

Paul was an easygoing guy, who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, like Miller Lite beer, and wearing shoes with no socks. A big sports fan, he liked watching games on TV, at least until he drifted off for a nap. When it came to actually playing a sport, Paul preferred golf, and was an avid player at his favorite course, Crestview Golf Course. One of Paul’s greatest passions was for cars, more particularly “hot rods.” He was a longtime member of the Old Rod Street Gang, and proud owner of several hot rods, including a 1934 Ford Coupe he built from scratch, and a panel truck with “Pepe's Delivery” on the side, which earned him quite a “stinky” nickname from his buddies. His most recent investment was a 1936 Orange Ford. No matter what make or model, Paul loved to tinker around with these old time beauties.

Above all, Paul’s happiest moments always involved the time he spent with his wife, children and grandchildren. He and Deanna enjoyed traveling whenever possible, and had cruised the Caribbean on several occasions. A very proud Grandpa, Paul loved to spend time with his grandkids and attended many of their sporting events, like he did with his own kids. He was always in his glory surrounded by their love and smiles. And most of the time, it was Grandpa who put those smiles on their faces with his goofy antics and fun-loving ways. Paul would find some humor in anything, and happily shared it with everyone around him. It is his incredibly loving heart and contagious smile that will be forever remembered and missed by his family and friends.

Paul F. LaPlante, age 66 of WeatherStone Village of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away at home on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. Visit with Paul’s family and friends on Thursday, September 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Homes, RDMG, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage, where a Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 28, at 1:00 p.m. Paul was preceded in death by his son, Christopher, his sister, Lorraine, and his brother, Jimmy. Members of Paul’s family include his wife, Deanna; his children and their spouses: Ken & Lisa LaPlante of Grand Rapids, Jodi & Christopher Hinman of Menominee, P.J. & Michele LaPlante of Three Rivers, Wendy & Jim Heffner of Kalamazoo; 9 grandchildren; his brothers: Mike, Bill and Steve; his sisters: Anne, Jean, Eileen and Marie; and numerous nieces and nephews. Please visit Paul’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Borgess VNA Hospice c/o Borgess Foundation.

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