Robert F. Laplant

VERONA - A man of great character cruised into Heaven on Oct. 3, 2015. Robert (RLP, Bob, Bump) was born to Francis and Irene LaPlant on Jan. 6, 1934, in Green Bay, Wis. He attended East High School and was a tank commander in the Wisconsin National Guard. RLP worked for 30 years at Wisconsin Bell and AT&T, earning the Governors Award for Salesmanship in 1971. Bob was a Boy Scout as well as a Scout Leader later in life. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish for many years and for the past 20 years a member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church. Bobs hobbies were motors, anything that moved, cars, planes, boats and bikes. He loved the sound of a 55 Chris-Craft, the roar a P51 Mustang as it soared through the skies and enjoyed the quiet of a sunset cruise. He loved classic cars, especially Thunderbirds and was a member of the Classic Thunderbird Club of Wisconsin for 30 years and served as Treasurer. Bump was a master at fixing anything, and if you were blessed with the family discount you could put whatever needed to be fixed or whatever problem needed to be solved on his workbench or in his brain and it would be returned better than before you left it with him. Nothing ever stopped him until the lung cancer. Even then, he worked to help others by taking part in trials at the UW Hospital. He was in the process of rebuilding his 1970 Mustang Convertible when the cancer took over. He did get to see it finished in his driveway (thanks to Grant, Gregg, Alex, Bob and John Riley and Jon Mortrud) but was sad he couldnt take the wheel. He loved to taxi his model airplanes on the grassy runways, but couldnt bear to wreck them. He treasured his time with Lu in Florida during the winter, loved biking and heading to the beach for a walk. He met his bride Lu (Lois Collaer) while cruising in his 1952 Red Chevy Deluxe convertible. They married on April 28, 1956 and were still crazy in love 59 years later. Together they raised five kids, four guys and a gal, in Appleton, Wausau and finally Madison and Verona. Never a dull moment. His spirit and laughter continues on through Lu, Holly Felly and Dean Veneman, Scott and Cinthya LaPlant, Grant and Lori LaPlant, Gregg and Tricia LaPlant, Christopher and Amy LaPlant and Jon Felly. Bump was the BEST Grandpa a kid could have. He will be fondly remembered by Courtney and Jon Short, Taryn, Quinn and Jess Felly, Andrew, Lindsay, Morgan, Alex, Cody, Megan, Samantha and Miles LaPlant. Great Grandsons, Thomas and Connor Short. The Indian Death lock is quiet. He took great care and interest in all of their lives and it showed, always nicknaming them as he did for most of his favorite people. Bump could never walk past a kid without taking up conversation. You are the main piece to our puzzle, it will never be completely finished properly without you. But Mom is our glue and we will stick together as usual. 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 cant begin to imagine a closer family than ours. WE are not perfect BUT we ARE A PERFECT FAMILY. We will make it because of these gifts you have given us. The laughter that you always brought will keep us smiling. Your sense of humor is by far the best and even yesterday you said to us You have to keep your sense of humor. We promise to do that. Weve had a great teacher. Thank You to the staff at the UW Hospital (Dr. T.C. Leal, Jen and Tanya The Warden) and Sister Georgeann and all of the staff at Home Health United Hospice. A special heartfelt thanks to Father Mike Burke who reminded Bob to trust and go with the angels, one special Angel in particular who is waiting. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison, on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2015 beginning at 11 a.m. with Monsignor Michael Burke presiding. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and again on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials in Memory of Robert LaPlant can be made to Make-A-Wish, 1 South Pinckney St., Suite 40, Madison, WI 53703. All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services Madison (608)442-0477 www.866allfaiths.com