MANISTIQUE - Former Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioner's Chairperson Louis "Sparky" Lauzon, 69, of 788N River Road, Manistique, Mich., died July 7, 2012 at his home.
He was born, Sept. 15, 1942, in Escanaba, Mich., the son of Louis B. and Evelyn (Lester) Lauzon and was a graduate of Garden High School. He continued his education at Bay College and received an associated degree from there.
In the early 1960's he served in the U.S. Army seeing duty in Germany.
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Louis ‘Sparky’ Lauzon
On Aug. 14, 1965, he married the former Sally J. Gardapee in Manistique. They made their home and raised their family in Manistique.
Sparky was a member of the Operating Engineers 324 and worked on many construction projects throughout the area.
Sparky was a life time member of the Democratic Party and was elected and appointed to several positions on the county and state level. He was elected and served as the Manistique Township supervisor, was elected and served as the chairman of the Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners, served as president of the Michigan Association of Counties, and also served on the Schoolcraft County Housing Commission board. He held the position of chairperson of the Audit and Finance Committee for the Board of Commissioners for many years and was highly regarded for his expertise. He also served on the Hiawatha Behavioral Health Board, the Workman's Compensation Board in Lansing and the Industrial Park Committee.
He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church of Manistique. He served as a Little League coach and was also an avid Detroit Lion and Detroit Tiger fan. He enjoyed many things, including woodworking, cooking, hunting, spending time with his children, grandchildren, friends and his dog, Madison. He also enjoyed watching sports, CNN, and going to the casino. He always looked forward to an every Friday night call from his U.S. Army friend, "Woody" from California.
Sparky is survived by his wife, Sally J. Lauzon of Manistique; daughter, Gina (Robert) Lindquist of Manistique; sons, Darrel (Lisa) Lauzon of Manistique and Joseph Lauzon of Manistique; grandchildren, Jeremy Lindquist, Nicole Lindquist, Kyra Lauzon, Kanton Lauzon and Justin Snyder; foster son, David Cookson; and his brother, Robert Lauzon of Garden.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Lauzon and Evelyn (Lester) Tatrow.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, at the Messier-Broullire Funeral Home in Manistique. A time of sharing memories and prayer will be led by Sparky's cousins, Darrel and Lew Pizzala at 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Manistique with Father Glenn Theoret officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery at Manistique followed by a luncheon at the St. Francis de Sales Parish Center.
Memorial donations may be directed to the St. Francis de Sales School, to Schoolcraft Memorial HomeCare or to the Garden Historical Society.