William F. LaPlante Sr.

William F. LaPlante Sr., 72, longtime Burlington resident and devoted husband, father and grandfather died Monday, (June 25, 2001) at Hartford Hospital, after a battle with leukemia. Born in North Haven on December 18, 1928. Bill is survived by Marion, his loving wife of 53 years; sons William F. LaPlante II of Naples, FL, Robert J. LaPlante of Seacrest, FL, Brian K. LaPlante of Murfreesboro, TN and daughter Donna M. LePlante of Tallahassee. FL. Bill also leaves his only sister, Mildred Chykirda and husband Bob of Rocky Hill; and daughters-in-law, Thea M. LaPlante. Caroline LaPlante and Susanne LaPlante. Bill's four grandchildren, Guy and Lauren LaPlante, Jake LaPlante and Caitlin LaPlante. His parents, John and Catherine LaPlante of Rocky Hill, are deceased, Mr. LaPlante, was employed as a master machinist by the General Electric Co. of Plainville for 32 years. He was an avid carver of wooden marine birds and mammals. He prided himself on being "able to fix anything but a broken heart". In retirement he traveled extensively, settling and building new residences in his adopted home-towns of Sober Island, Nova Scotia and S. Walton County, FL. A veteran of both the US Merchant Marine and US Army, Mr. LaPlante served in the Signal Corps under General Douglas MacArthur in Japan until his Honorable Discharge in 1948. Mr. LaPlante will be buried with military Honor Guard in attendance at Gulf Cemetery in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, following Mass at St. Rita's Catholic Church there. Family and friends may call at the Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St. (Route 4) Unionville, CT Wednesday, June 27, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.