Marquette––George R. LaChapelle,
86, of 425 Fisher Street, Marquette, entered eternal life
Thursday morning, February 14, 2008, at the D.J. Jacobetti
Home for Veterans. He had resided at Jacobetti since July
2005.
George was born September 30, 1921, in Marquette, a son
of Jeffery and Alvina (Brunelle) LaChapelle. On December
2, 1939, he married Sylvia O’braza and they raised
one son, Paul. After graduating from high school, he was
drafted into the Army, serving from 1944 to 1946 with Company
“C” 331st Engineer Construction Battalion and
was honorably discharged with the rank of Technician 5th
Grade. Following service, he worked for the South Shore
Railroad and in 1956 began employment with the South Shore
Federal Credit Union. In 1959, he moved to Iron Mountain
as manager of the Iron Mountain Credit Union. He was a member
of the Board of Directors of CUNA International, Inc., president
of the Michigan Credit Union League from May 1966 to 1971.
He was elected president of the Credit Union National Association
for 1971 to 1973, and managing director from 1974 to 1981.
He received the 1995 Distinguished Service Award in the
Credit Union Northwest Chapter. He was a member of St. Fabian
Catholic Church in Farmington Hills.
Survivors include three sisters, Evelyn Maki, Lucille (Charles)
Smedman, and Shirley (Robert) Holman; a brother, Adrian
LaChapelle; and a sister-in-law, Josephine Tindale all of
Marquette; a very special friend, Joan Larson of Novi; and
many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, George
was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia in 1999; son,
Paul in 1996; his sisters, Mary Louise, Ruth and Gladys
Burbey; brothers, Jeffery, LeRoy, Lowell, Robert, Raymond,
and Napoleon LaChapelle.
Friends may call at St. Christopher Catholic Church on Tuesday,
February 19, beginning at 2:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial
will be celebrated in the church at 3:00 pm Tuesday afternoon
with Rev. Frank Ricca as celebrant. A reception will follow
in the church fellowship hall.
Burial will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the D.
J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, Patient Activity Fund, 425
Fisher Street, Marquette, MI 49855.
