GLADSTONE - A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, July 14 at 1 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 723 Wisconsin Ave., Gladstone, with Rev. Fr. Ronald Timock officiating. Emery's wife, children and grandchildren will be here to attend the service. A luncheon will follow downstairs in the parish hall.
ANTHEM, Ariz. - Emery J. LaFave, 72, after a brief illness with kidney and bone cancer, made his journey into the light on Friday morning, March 16, 2012, at John T. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, with his wife, Millie, and daughter, Laurie, at his side.
Emery was born May 23, 1939, in Hermansville, the son of Irvin and Elizabeth (Trudell) LaFave. He lived in Hermansville until his family relocated to Escanaba in 1946, where Emery attended St. Anne's Catholic grade school and while there was an alter server. Emery graduated from Holy Name Catholic High School in 1958, the first class to complete four years in the new High School.
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Emery Joseph LaFave
Emery worked at Harnischfeger as a time study, and bowled for the Industrial League while living in Escanaba. He moved to Milwaukee where his three daughters grew up. On Nov. 4, 1978, Emery married Mildred Fingal in Milwaukee. They later moved to Salem, N.H.; San Jose, Calif.; and retired in Anthem, Ariz.
Emery liked to travel, and especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He and Millie flew home often to share special occasions with them. Every summer they visited family in Wisconsin and continued on to Escanaba and Gladstone to visit Emery's siblings. Emery was a very caring and generous man. He was a lifelong devoted fan of the Detroit Lions, and even had his golf cart painted blue and silver along with decorating it with Detroit Lion decals.
Emery is survived by his loving wife, Millie of 33 years; three daughters, Laurie (Mark) Lorentz, Lynn (Dennis) Gale, and Tammy (Scott) Massman, all of Wisconsin; five grandchildren, Sarah Zaffran, Zachary Lorentz, and Laura Lorentz, Jennifer (Kevin) Koltesch, and Ben Massman, all of Wisconsin; one great-grandaughter, Haley Keltesch; one brother, Robert (Linda) LaFave of Escanaba; one brother-in-law, Ed Bedard of Escanaba; one sister-in-law, Betty LaFave of Gladstone; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Emery was preceded in death by his father, Irvin LaFave on Dec. 2, 1978; mother, Elizabeth (Betty) LaFave on Dec. 14, 1987; two sisters, Lorraine Bedard on Aug. 3, 1984; Gertrude Boudreau, on July 16, 2008; one brother, Ralph LaFave, Sr. on Dec. 3, 2007; one brother-in-law, Lawrence Boudreau on June 22, 1971.
Emery is missed and we are very sad at our loss, but thankful he was able to say goodbye and tell us about going into the light. Emery requested his body go to "Science Care" in Phoenix, for education and research. A memorial service was held in Anthem, Ariz. on April 14 at their parish church, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.