Obit: LaFond, Eugene J. ‘Gene’ (1916 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: LaFond, LePage, Ebert, Thorne, Horton, Schiller, Theis, Peterson, Nason, Belknap, Pernsteiner, Gierl, Given, Logan 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) March 9, 2011

LaFond, Eugene J. ‘Gene’ (29 May 1916 - 28 February 2011)

Eugene J. (Gene) LaFond, 94, of Marshfield died Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, at the Palliative Care Unit at Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Eugene was born May 29, 1916, in Lake Linden, MI, to Joseph and Elsie (LePage) LaFond. He attended schools in Menasha and Appleton.  In his 20s he was already an accomplished musician playing with various orchestras in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, such as Al Menke Orchestra, Jolly Millers, Spike Haskell and others.  He was an original member of the Hubbard Milling Co. Sunshine Minstrels, who performed on KYSM radio live in Mankato.

He was united in marriage to Mildred M. Ebert in 1939 in Fairmont, MN.  They had two sons and later divorced.  He was then married to Margaret J. Thorne Horton March 24, 1973, in Marshfield. She died Aug. 14, 1981. Two years later, he married NataLee Schiller in Marshfield. She died Feb. 20, 1999.

In 1951, he moved his family to Marshfield and worked at Laemmle’s Clothing then St. Clair Page Clothing for 25 years until his retirement.  He was also employed by WDLB as a sales representative.  In the early 50’s he played guitar with the Howie Sturtz Grassland Butter Orchestra until the mid-70s.  He later played guitar with the Bob Lightfoot Trio in Marshfield.

Eugene was a man who brightened everyone’s day.  He had a wonderful zest for life and loved music.  A man of many talents, he played violin, guitar, mandolin and ukulele.  He was a member of the University of Wisconsin Marshfield Symphony and gave private lessons. He was a longtime member of the Elks Club in Marshfield.

Eugene is survived by one son, John (Janis) of LeSueur, MN; two granddaughters, Christine (Jason) Theis of Prior Lake, MN, and Danielle (Andrew) Peterson of New Prague, MN; two great-grandchildren, Ella Theis and Landen Theis; four stepdaughters, Carol (Bob) Nason of Lake Forest, IL, Carol (Tom) Belknap of Mesa, AZ, Jill (Bob) Pernsteiner of Charlotte, NC, and Janet (Tim) Gierl of Wausau and their families; and one sister, Janette Given of Appleton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; two sisters; a son, Eugene J. LaFond Jr.; and a stepson, Kent Horton.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday March 4, at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, with Rev. James Logan officiating.  Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Marshfield.

Visitations were from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Rembs Funeral Home and again Friday from 10 a.m. until time of the services.  There was an Elks Lodge of Sorrow Memorial Service at 6 p.m. Thursday, at Rembs Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.