Obituaries

MADISON – Paul A. LaFond, age 71, found peace on Saturday, September 23, 2017, after a hard fought battle with lung cancer. He was born on Feb. 20, 1946, to Aelred and Vera (Walczak) LaFond in Two Rivers, WI, where he grew up playing in the neighborhood and fishing the lakes and rivers.

He was a 1964 graduate of Washington High School in Two Rivers, where he received many accolades as a basketball player. In 1964, he was the team’s leading rebounder and scorer, 1st team All County, 1st team All Mid-East Conference, and 4th team All State as reported by Prep Illustrated Magazine. At 6’1” he could dunk a basketball. He was later honored as a player who scored over 30 points in a game against Kaukauna and by the Two Rivers High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He accepted a basketball scholarship to St. Norbert College in DePere WI, where he grew and inch and excelled on the court. He was a three-time varsity letter winner… and it would have been four but at that time freshman didn’t play. Off the court, he graduated with a business degree.

Paul is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he earned several honors including the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and Army Commendation Medal. He spent most of his life in Madison, WI, raising a family and working for what is now US Bank and later American Family Insurance. As his friends know, Paul always loved fishing, and a good fish fry. He will also be remembered for his love of all sports. Some of his favorite times were spent watching his grandchildren, exploring new restaurants, fishing with his family and friends, and of course, watching a game and providing his own commentary.

Paul was a proud father and grandfather. Paul is survived by his two children, Carrie (Bill) Grahn and CJ (Vicki) LaFond of Madison. He was a loving and devoted grandfather to Alex and Claire Grahn and Max and Maccoy LaFond. His grandchildren will greatly miss his weekend visits that always included a special delivery of treats, breakfast and stories that the kids always looked forward to. He was one of three children, survived by his brothers Alan (Christine) and Ron LaFond. He was preceded in death by his father, Aelred LaFond, and mother, Vera LaFond.

We would like to thank all Paul’s friends for their visits, cards and words of sympathy (especially Paul, Willie, Sharon & Pixie). Paul and his family deeply appreciate the wonderful staff at the VA Hospital, Alden Estates (especially Tracey and Karen) and Agrace Hospice (especially Angie).

Family and friends whose lives Paul touched are invited to a visitation at Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home, 5701 Odana Road, Madison on Thursday, September 28, 2017, from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate his life, where Full Military Honors will be held at 6:45 p.m. He will be interred at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vietnam Veterans of America, www.vva.org. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com