Joseph A. LaFave

Joseph A. LaFave, 84, of Onaway, died at home Wednesday March 2, 2016. The son of Emil and Mabel (Crooks) LaFave, Joe was born in Onaway May 31, 1931.

He graduated from Onaway High School in 1949 and October 6, 1951 married his soul mate and the love of his life, Beverly June Hanel at St. Monica Catholic Church in Afton.

Surviving Joe are five daughters, Alice (Ken) Szymoniak of Millersburg, Dorothy (Ken) Tolfree of Freeland, April (Loren) Wilcox of Canada Creek Ranch, Ann (Jim) Price of Onaway and Elizabeth “Betsy” (Ronnie) Horan of Rosebush; two sons, Roger and Larry, both of Onaway; daughter-in-law, Penny LaFave of Onaway; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 10 foreign exchange daughters and sons, Caroline (Derk) Dodde of Ada, Gwen Johnsen of Lewiston, Willy Lujan of Venezuela, Inga of Denmark, Marie and Anna, both of Sweden, Lelina of Finland, Paloma of Spain, and Maggie and Mike, both of Holland. Joe also leaves his siblings, Ruth (Ernie) Koronka and Clifford LaFave, both of Onaway, Danny (Donna) LaFave of Wyoming State and Carol (Jim) Hawke of Fenton; brother-in-laws, Bud and John (Shirley) Hanel, both of Afton; sister-in-laws, Trudy (Gil) Reynolds and Carolyn Appleford, both of Florida; as well as many nieces and nephews.

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Visitation was held at the Chagnon Funeral Home Monday, March 7, with a wake service that evening.  The funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Paul Catholic Church Tuesday with the Rev. Peter Eke officiating.  Joe’s final resting place will be at St. Paul Cemetery.

Those planning an expression of sympathy please consider a donation in memory of Joe to The St. Paul Cemetery Crucifix Project or to Hospice of the Straits.  Condolences may be shared with Joe’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.