Lois M. Laplant

MADISON - Lois Mary “Lu” Collaer LaPlant died peacefully at home surrounded by family, on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, from renal failure. In May, when the state re-opened from the shutdown, her family moved her from a facility to Holly and Dean’s home in Wisconsin Rapids, where she lived in the room she fondly called “her apartment”. Lu was born in Green Bay, Wis., on Jan 20, 1936, to Joe and Hattie (Albers) Collaer, the youngest of six children. She was at the top of her class in her elementary years and attended West DePere High School where she was prom queen in 1953. Lu married Robert LaPlant on April 28, 1956. They had a beautiful marriage that endured 59 years. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament and St. Maria Goretti Catholic parishes. They had five children they raised in Appleton, Wausau, Madison and Verona and family was of the utmost importance to her. Lu was a very busy lady in the early stages of marriage as she had four children under the age of three, which contributed to her great sense of humor. She always sported a contagious smile and had a genuine desire to help anyone that needed it.  Lu was a fun lady, she loved to watch sports! “How ‘bout dem Packers eh?” Plus, Badgers, Brewers and March Madness. Lu was too active to just watch sports, she loved golf, tennis, skiing, volleyball and in her forties started to play softball with other “old Moms” from the West Side of Madison. She was a softball pitcher for Octopus and Mermaid’s Teams and these ole girls played for years, celebrating after the game with a beer or two and a burger at the Village Bar. She loved helping with Bob at Edgefest and BS, where they did everything from performing on stage to pouring beer at the beer tent. Anytime a volunteer opportunity came up in Lu’s life she jumped in. Mom was a “tough old Belgian”. In her forties, she was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma which really took a toll on her. It made her fingers curl shut but Dad modified her golf clubs so she could keep her awesome swing intact. She went on dialysis for about nine months, came off and went on years later which is unheard of, but they said it was due to her being in great shape by staying so active. She suffered with congestive heart failure, had a pacemaker, yet still kept on going. When the kids were young, she worked part time at Sentry Foods and Ken Kopps on Monroe. Never in the summer though, as it would interfere with her kids, golf, and softball schedule. Mom also worked with the family at Bouquet Connection, where pretty much every LaPlant did time at some point. Mom loved to cook and bake, and you could always count on something wonderful coming out of the oven. Christmas was her favorite especially after the grandchildren arrived. We had the best times as a family. She was a good friend, a great Mom, and a wonderful grandma, always making time for sport and school functions for the “grands”. We had a wonderful life and a perfect childhood because we were the most important part of her world. She was a Mom and a homemaker first and foremost. We thank God for the gift of family that you have given us. We were taught from early on to love, honor, and respect each other and we can’t begin to imagine a closer family than ours. Lu was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; in-laws, Francis and Irene LaPlant; siblings, Lorayne Tuyls, Jean Linanne, and Robert Collaer. She is survived by her children, Holly LaPlant Felly and Dean Veneman, Scott and Cinthya LaPlant, Grant and Lori LaPlant, Gregg and Tricia LaPlant, and Chris and Amy LaPlant; eleven grandchildren, Courtney (Jon) Short, Taryn and Quinn (Jess) Felly, Andrew, Lindsay, Morgan, Alex, Cody, Megan, Samantha and Miles LaPlant; two great-grandsons, Thomas and Connor Short; and her brothers, Kenneth and Glenn Collaer.  Her Funeral Mass will be on her birthday, Jan. 20, 2021, at 11 a.m., at CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5306 Main St., McFarland. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 10:15 a.m. until the time of service. We want to thank Dean Veneman for the exceptional care and devotion he gave to Mom during these months, he went above and beyond. Heartland Hospice, you are amazing people. Memorials can be made to Give Kids The World and Second Harvest Food Bank. P.S. True loves include loud music, convertibles, black dogs, and swimming. All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services of Madison is assisting the family. Online condolences can be made at www.866allfaiths.com