Donald F. LaSota Sr.

Donald F. LaSota Sr., 77, of Yatesville, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Inverness, Miss., son of the late John and Flora Kemp LaSota.

He attended and graduated from Jenkins/Yatesville Joint High School in 1961. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving as a radar repairman, reaching the rank of sergeant. After being honorably discharged in 1964, he was employed by Insalaco's, American Auto, and owned and operated LaSota Electric for many years. He was employed by Tobyhanna Army Depot from 1981 through 1996 as a leader, tactical weapons systems, where he was deployed as a civilian to the Persian Gulf to repair and maintain weaponry for Operation Desert Storm. He worked at Home Depot in Wilkes-Barre before his final retirement.

Donny loved fishing, hunting, gardening, and watching westerns. His bountiful garden fed many and he especially enjoyed his wife's sauce made from his homegrown tomatoes and recipes created from the fruits of his labor. He cherished the memories of the annual camping trips with his wife and children to Promise Land State Park and Tuckahoe Acres in Delaware. He adored his grandchildren and treasured his time going on adventures with them like whitewater rafting, amusement parks, watching them create music and art and chatting with them about history and current events. Every year, his family eagerly awaited the tradition of his "secret" recipe clam chowder on Christmas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his brother, Andrew LaSota.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, the former Laura Mattioli; daughter, Donna and husband, Ken, Duryea; son, Donald Jr., Exeter; daughter, Irene and husband, Joe, Wyoming; grandchildren, Nicholas, Summer, Abigail and Evan; brothers, Robert and his wife, Paulette; John and his wife, Dorothy; sister, Nancy Grill and her husband, John; brothers, Ralph and his partner, Maryann; Thomas and his wife, Janet; Julian and his wife, Susan; and many nieces and nephews.

Our family wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Christian Adonizio, Dr. Thomas Bowen, Dr. Raghava Reddy Levaka Veera, Dr. Robert Rostock for the excellent treatment Donny received under their care; and the nursing staff at Sacred Heart Home Hospice; and to our Rhiannon, for the kindness and comfort she brought to Pop.

Family and friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Gubbiotti Funeral Home LLC, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter.

Those attending the calling hours, please follow the practice of social distancing and facial coverings will be required at all times.

To send the family an expression of sympathy or a condolence, please visit www.gubbiottifh.com