Service Details
Services celebrating Al’s life will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 12 noon. Visitation will be in the funeral home from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. Military honors and a memorial luncheon will follow. Private interment will take place at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Mount Pleasant – Allen James LaFave, age 76, passed away peacefully at Aurora-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, on Friday, September 29, 2023, surrounded with the love of family.
Allen was born in Prairie du Chien, WI on August 11, 1947 to Alfred and Rozella (nee: Dobbs) LaFave. He attended William Horlick High School until enlisting with the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Vietnam War, where he was injured and awarded The Purple Heart. Al did earn his GED in Okinawa, Japan while in the military. On December 20, 1980, Al was united in marriage with the love of his life, Colleen M. (nee: DeGarmo) LaFave.
Al had been employed with Young Radiator, Kranz Inc and Consolidated Freightways, from where he retired as a truck driver. Among many of his interests, Al enjoyed golfing (member of Ives Grove Monday Senior Men’s League), hunting, fishing, horse racing (#241), and socializing with friends especially weekday mornings at the lakefront. Above all, Al loved and cherished spending time with all of his family.
Surviving are his loving wife, Colleen; children, Travis (Janie) LaFave, Amy (Earl) Ball and Andrew (Jayme Bergsrud) LaFave; grandchildren, Jade (Conner Johnson), Caleb (Lauren) and Madison LaFave; Lydia Ball; Andrew & Kaylee LaFave; great-granddaughter, Aurora Johnson; sister, Joyce (Richard) Bonini; brothers-in-law, Gary & William DeGarmo; sisters-in-law, Beatrice LaFave, and Mina DeGarmo; many beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.
In addition to his parents, Al was preceded in death by brothers, Edward & Gary LaFave; Colleen’s parents, Kenneth and Margaret DeGarmo; sisters-in-law, Harriet LaFave and Marlene Hintz; and brothers-in-law, John & Timothy DeGarmo.
Services celebrating Al’s life will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 12 noon. Visitation will be in the funeral home from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. Military honors and a memorial luncheon will follow. Private interment will take place at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
A heartfelt note of thanks to the wonderful staff at Aurora – St. Luke’s Medical Center ICU for the compassionate care and support given in Al’s time of need. May God bless all of you!
Pauline Gallagher says
Sincere sympathy to Colleen and family. Pauline Galllagher Ireland sister of Cpl Patrick Galllagher USMC
Frank Morelli says
Maureen & I are so sad in the passing of our dear friend Al He and Colleen came into our lives thru a fellow Marine his buddy Fred .We looked forward to Al & Colleen spending winter months in Florida celebrating Holidays with our family 2/4 battalion Reunions especially Quantico VA Marine Corps Museum There we went to the Vietnam Wall where we paid tribute to our fallen members of hotel co 2/4 where on March 30 1967 we loss nine young Marines one of which was Cpl Patrick Gallagher a Navy Ship Destroyer DDG 127 is being built with launch next summer Al & I looked forward to this event ! Laughing about how are wives would be pushing us in our wheelchairs Semper Fi
Jack Leiser says
Sympathy to the LaFave family, always enjoyed my visits with Al.
Ron & Marie Peterson says
My wife & I are so sad for your loss Al was a great friend . We had many years of great memories .. lots of laughs I’ll never forget you buddy ! I’ll see you on the other side ! God bless his family till you meet again we pray his peace & his strength on you all
Lloyd Ward & Sharon says
Kenneth Ward & SharonJones
Al and Colleen became real good friends of ours though one of the
Marine Reunion with Frank & Maureen Morelli. We live in Ohio so we all would go to Lake Hope and they got cabins and we went up and spent wonderful time together. We are going to miss him. We love you Colleen and are praying for you and your family
Marianne Lawson says
Al was one of my favorite people while we worked together at Kranz.
I’m so sorry for your loss
Clinton and Ann Cushman says
Dear Colleen and family. We didn’t know you two but your kindness and Al’s is was sweet. Doing business with you at the selling if your home made my husband and I comfortable. Colleen our heart goes out to you and your family. Our deepest sympathies to you. May God give you peace and Love Always. The Cushman’s ❤️
Jody O'Brien (Zurawski) says
I am truly saddened upon hearing of Al passing. Colleen, even though I only met you and Al last year, I am compelled to share my sympathy for you because of the kindness and warmth you and Al shared with my family when my brother Gregg passed away. You both were such wonderful neighbors to my brother and I will never forget you and Al. I wish everyone had thoughtful and concerned neighbors like you both. I have no doubt Al and Gregg are working on some kind of project together up in heaven, whatever that may be. I wish I could attend Al’s funeral so I could give you a big hug, but I am unable to be there. Be assured, though, that you will be in my thoughts that day. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Cole and Sharon Miller says
Colleen, we would like to send our sincere sympathy to you and the family for your loss. We are so very sorry and saddened to learn of AL’s passing. This was really a shock to us, and we cannot begin to imagine the feelings and emotions that you and the family may be experiencing. Although, we have only known you and Al for about five years or so, it really feels and seems like we have lost a great friend and a wonderful person that has been in our lives for decades and not just a few years. We so looked forward to seeing you guys during your time in Florida each year, with the dinners and especially all of the time we spent at the horse track together. During the time that you all were in Florida, we would arrive at the track early on Saturday mornings to find Al already there with a smile on his face and full of stories to tell us about the races he seen during the prior week. Al would recap almost the entire past week with winners he had, people he had conversations with, people he saw, what certain horses did or did not do, along with which trainers had a good or bad week, and anything else that happened at the track that week. He would share with us the places you ‘all had been to or eaten at during the week while critiquing them all. There was not too much that went on at that track that Al did not see, hear or know about. Al always seemed to be so happy and full of joy to be at the track, to play some horses, and to just take it all in. Al truly enjoyed himself there and will be greatly missed by many more there as well. Al was a kind, generous and thoughtful man who proudly served and loved his country, and left it way too soon. We are very grateful, and fortunate to have been able to share a small part of his life with him and Colleen. We will miss him tremendously and think of him often. Rest easy buddy! Peace be with you and your family.
Christine Semenow says
Al (along with his riding mower!), was one of the first people I met when I moved to Racine. He and his wife Colleen were always there to help me out with lawn advice or lend a spare nozzle. Wherever Al was, Colleen was not far behind and vice versa. They made a great pair. He was such a friendly neighbor and will be missed–my heart goes out to Colleen and her family.