Roland G. Lapan

UPTON Mr. Roland G. Lapan, 85, of Upton, died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at the Beaumont Skilled Nursing Home in Northbridge after an illness. He was the husband of Joan E. (McCarthy) Lapan. Mr. Lapan was born in Upton, the son of the late Harry and Nettie (Burnham) Lapan and attended public schools in Upton He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre where he was a member of the military police.Following his military service, Mr. Lapan became employed as a mechanic at the former Draper Corporation located in Hopedale, where he worked for 17 years. He then was employed for over 20 years as a mechanic at Rosenfeld Concrete, retiring in 1986. Following that, he was employed for 10 years at Lapan Trucking and Heritage Motors, located in Upton. Mr. Lapan was a lifelong resident of Upton, and a member of the Upton Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also loved to restore antique automobiles, especially the Ford Model T. Along with his wife of 59 years, he is survived by one daughter, Joyce F. MacNaughton of Upton; five sons, Robert R. Lapan and his wife, Betsy, of Mendon, David J. Lapan and his wife, Dawn, of Upton, Steven P. Lapan of Uxbridge, Thomas M. Lapan of Boston, and Christopher J. Lapan and his husband, Jose Rodriguez, of Boston;eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers, Arthur Lapan of Upton, Donald Lapan of Medway, and William Lapan of Douglas; two sisters, Mrs. Lucille Whitney of Northbridge and Mrs. Phyllis Fertitta of Milford, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his former son-in-law, John P. MacNaughton, of Grafton. His funeral with military honors will be held Wednesday, Sept. 3, from the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home (www.edwardsmemorialfuneralhome.com), 44 Congress St., Milford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., in St. Michaels Church, North Avenue, Mendon. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Upton. A visiting hour will be held Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to UMASS Memorial Hospice, UMASS Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 2795, Worcester, MA 01613, or to Beaumont Skilled Nursing Center, 85 Beaumont Drive, Northbridge, MA 01534.