John James LaForrest: January 24, 1920 – June 24, 2009

In loving memory of John LaForrest, age 89 years, who passed away in the Dryden Regional Health Centre on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 after a brief illness.
Born in Quibell, John was raised and educated there.  He was the second oldest of eleven children to parents Jack and Marie LaForrest.
John helped build the Red Lake Highway #105 in 1938.  He worked in Sioux Lookout and Hudson for Patricia Transportation until December of 1942 when he joined the Army.  Posted with the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1944, John served in England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.  He was honorably discharged from service on February 28, 1946.
Following the war he returned to Red Lake Road and went into a trucking partnership with his brother Hugh (“Scooter”) LaForrest; he also operated a taxi service and restaurant in Red Lake Road and in 1950 he went to work for Bill Webb at Imperial Oil for 16 years.
John met future wife Alice Moroz at Myrtle and Arnie’s restaurant and they were married on September 5, 1953 in Winnipeg.  They resided on White Ave. in Red Lake Road.  John became Verna’s dad and by 1960 Wayne and Cal were on the scene.  John, Alice and family moved to Dryden in 1966 where John worked for the Dryden Paper Mill as a mechanic and retired in 1983.
John is survived by his daughter Verna (Leo) LaFrance; sons Wayne (Debbie) LaForrest and Cal LaForrest;  grandsons Barry (Tracey) and James (Amber) LaFrance, Stephen (Kristi), Trevor and Jordan LaForrest; great grandchildren Harlee, Joseph and Liam LaFrance, and Laura LaFrance.
John was predeceased by his wife Alice, older sister Myrtle, brothers Charlie, Hugh, Lorne and David.
John is survived by his sisters Jean, Lila, Mildred, Doris (Gareth), Nora (Brian) as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 1 pm in the Moffat Chapel of the Stevens Funeral Homes with Legion Chaplain Doug Wightman officiating.  Branch #63 of the Royal Canadian Legion conducted a Veteran’s Memorial Service.   Interment followed in the Dryden Cemetery.
Visitation took place on Friday with a Masonic Memorial Service being held at 7 pm.  Lunch was put on by the Ladies Auxiliary at the Legion Branch #63.
If friends desire, donations may be made to the Palliative Care Volunteers through Stevens Funeral Homes, P.O. Box 412, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be emailed to sympathycard@shaw.ca subject: LaForrest