John Leo LaForge

LaFORGE, John Leo - Of Flint, age 61, died Saturday, December 31, 2011 in Flint. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1227 East Bristol Road, Burton. John will lie in state in church Wednesday after 10 a.m. Father Steve Anderson will preside and cremation will follow. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Luke's Women's Center. Visiting hours Tuesday 2-9 p.m., with the Virgil Prayer Service Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint. John was born in Pontiac, Michigan on August 30, 1950 and was a resident of Flint. He was the son of the late Donald L. LaForge and Margaret A. (Olsen) and step-father, Roy Olsen. On December 22, 1970 he married Patricia Conlon at St. Benedict Church in Pontiac, Michigan. John graduated from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan in 1974 and obtained a Master's Degree in Social work at the University of Michigan in 1983. He worked most of his career as a clinical social worker. John was an excellent carpenter who also remodeled many homes throughout Flint's college cultural area. He had a passion for theater, the arts, social justice and football; most especially the Detroit Lions. John was an exceptional and loving husband, father and son who will be missed deeply. We are grateful to Father Arthur McGovern, Jesuit (Deceased) who was Johns' spiritual advisor for 20 years, to Brother Rene Roy (Marist) dear friend and respected advisor and Dr. Joseph Meadows of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Surviving is his devoted wife, Patricia Marie LaForge; children, Heather Kate LaForge of Ann Arbor, Elisabeth Clare (Matthew) Wasson of Flint, Brian Patrick LaForge of Flint and Kathleen Marie LaForge of Phoenix, Arizona; one granddaughter, Anna (daughter of Elisabeth (Matthew) Wasson); sisters, Katie (Christopher) Hurley, Donna (Tom) Coffey, Denise (Charles) Patrick, Patty (David) Sherill, Rosemarie (Raymond) Kennedy and Roseann LaForge; brothers, Bill (Liz) LaForge and Dan LaForge; sister-in-law, Karen (David) O'Malley; brothers-in-law, Dick Conlon, Bob (Tina) Conlon and Jeffrey Conlon (Kellee Craigin); 28 nieces and nephews. Special thanks to John's colleagues, staff and clients at Oakland Psychological in Grand Blanc, Michigan, especially Laurie Powell and Kelly Link. Your condolences may be shared with the family at

swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.