Christopher M. Laffin

Christopher Matthew Laffin, 66, of King, Wisconsin, formerly of Middleton, Wis, and Portland, Maine, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Berlin Memorial Hospital in Berlin, Wis., after a long illness.
Chris was born on Oct. 12, 1956 in Portland, the only child of Catherine (Alexion) Peirce and Gerry S. Laffin. Raised by his mother after his parent's divorce in 1960, he attended Nathan Clifford, King Middle, and Portland High School. In 1981, he married Charisse St. Pierre and following their divorce in 1988, Chris left Portland for Wisconsin to live closer to his father.
In 2004, Chris was diagnosed with COPD and in 2007, moved to the Wisconsin Veteran's Home at King. Despite his compromised health, he always maintained his sense of humor and positive, forgiving outlook. He spent his time learning to fly using an online flight simulation program, watching movies and football-especially the Packers, and following welding and sailing channels, among others, on YouTube (Chris's channel: Duncan Mac @63256325N).
Some of Chris's best memories of Portland were movies at the State Theater, exploring Peaks Island, time spent with friends, including William "B Boy" McGeough, playing bass guitar with his band Razor Sharp, Charlie and his Great Danes in St. Albans, working on fishing boats out of the Old Port, his cat Stovepipe, how his maternal grandfather, a barber, always tried to comb his hair whenever he saw him, and the Greek Orthodox traditions his family celebrated at Christmas.
In Wisconsin, Chris worked for many years doing carpentry and later, at Schmidt's Auto Salvage Yard in Waunakee. He enjoyed the cottage on the Mississippi River at Trempealeau, Devil's Lake, the Wisconsin River, and rides with friends on his beloved Harley-Davidson.
Chris is survived by his half-brother Sean Laffin (Shelly); half-sister, Jody Kennedy (Paul); nieces and nephews; stepmother Sally Hanner (Lester) and dear friends, Jamey and Barb. He was predeceased by his parents; paternal grandparents, Margaret "Billie" (Kennedy) and Forrest Gehring Laffin; maternal grandparents, Eugenia (Zotis) and Peter Alexion; and aunt and uncle Effie (Alexion) and Sampson Comas.
A celebration of Chris's life is planned for summer 2023 in Wisconsin. The family wishes to thank the 4th floor staff at Ainsworth Hall for their loving care over the years.
When Chris was younger, one of his favorite books was Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Though he will be deeply missed, we take heart in knowing that his flight path is set as he embarks on a new adventure. "It was morning, and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea..."
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