M. J. "Joe" Lapensky

Dear Joan and Family, Fred and I were so sorry that we could not be with all of you at Joe's funeral. He was a very wonderful and caring person.Our families shared many wonderful memories. May he rest in peace and the perpetual light shine upon him.
Mary Ellen and Fred DeNucci

The Flight Attendants at NWA were touched by Mr. Lapensky
when he gave us all a $100 bonus after a strike by United
caused harder work days for the crews. It was a small
amount but meant so much. Years later, I still heard crew
members mention this thoughtful gesture.

Mike and family - may your fond memories get you all through this difficult time. I was in awe of all that your father accomplished in his life time. What a wonderful man.
My deepest sympathies -

My condolences to the Lapensky family. He was a kind and generous person and a real leader at Northwest Airlines. I knew Rosemary and Julie from Holy Angels. My husband was a mechanic at Northwest Airlines. So sorry for your loss.

Joe was an advisor to Northwest Aerospace Training after he retired. He helped lead our management team and offered great bits of wisdom and wit. He was loved by all. When I left Northwest in 1992, he let me come and work in a spare office with him in Bloomington while providing consulting and advisory services in my search for buying a business and starting a career as an entrepreneur. He did all of this for free and from his heart. He was my hero! He helped me find my first business...

I was one of the "Mary" secretaries at Northwest who worked or filled in for Mr. Lapensky when he was Controller. We always said he only hired Mary's because someone always came when he yelled Mary from his office. He even gave me a ride to evening mass at St. Peters once when I was filling in for the other Mary and he asked me to work later but I said it was a holy day and he said no problem because he had to get to Mass also. I even got a cigar when one of his new babies was born. Great...

We miss business leaders of such integrity who put their employees and the community above personal gain. He was a true servant leader.

Julie, Your Dad was so generous with your friends. Like our wonderful trips to Sanibel. Also, even as a child, I could see how intellegent your father was; and yet humble and unpretentious. I also remember your Dad half looking the other way, and laughing at our teenager silliness. I am so sorry for your loss of a great father and a great human being. .

Mike - so sorry to hear about your dad - sympathies to you and your family. Cathy (Saleck - '76) Torgerson