Patrick Henry LaVergne, 82 years old of
Grayslake, IL, passed away January 22nd, 2024. He was born March 17th, 1941, in
New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of the late Sidney James and Gracie (Gautreau) LaVergne. Pat grew up in
Algiers, Louisiana. After graduating from Behrman High School, he served in the US Coast Guard and moved his family to Texas when he began work as an Air Traffic Controller. While living in Texas, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Education from Sam Houston State University. He later moved to Kansas City and received a Master's degree in Administration from Central Michigan University. Pat trained as a boxer as a young man, and he played slow-pitch softball throughout his life, pitching well into his seventies while winning a national championship. He loved to compete at Scrabble, often in tournaments, and enjoyed watching nature programs and college basketball, especially the KU Jayhawks. Pat traveled much of the world, including Europe and South America, and he enjoyed all kinds of music, including Ray Charles, The Meters, Irma Thomas, and Elvis Presley. He loved to sing the Hank Williams song "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," and, in his Cajun patois, loved to say, "We gonna pass a good time."
Pat is survived by his dear love Carole Stowe and her family. He is also survived by his three children and their mother, Elizabeth (Eppling) LaVergne: his son Victor LaVergne and wife Nathalie Gauteron and her three children, Sophia, Alex and Nolan, his daughter Lania Knight and her two children, Joel and Morgan Chesser, and his son Vincent LaVergne and wife Jay, and their children, Jack, Hayes, and Isaac. He was preceded in death by his brother Ray LaVergne.
Pat's family would like to extend its sincere gratitude to JourneyCare Hospice for making the last months of Pat's life as joyful and comfortable as possible.
Funeral Services will be held Sunday, February 4th, at the STRANG FUNERAL HOME OF ANTIOCH 1055 Main Street (Rte. 83),
Antioch, IL 60002. Visitation will be from 2pm-5pm with the service starting at 4pm. In lieu fo flowers, donations to JourneyCare Hospice are welcomed. Please sign the online guestbook at www.strangfh.com.