ISADORE "IZZY" F. LaFLEUR JR.

Isadore F. “Izzy” LaFleur Jr., a longtime resident and businessman of Devils Lake passed away on Saturday morning, November 16, 2013 at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake in the love and care of his family. He was 90 years of age. Funeral Services for Izzy will be held on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Pastor Kevin Kaufmann of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 21st at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Time of Remembrance. All are welcome to attend. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Isadore Francis LaFleur was born October 1, 1923 to Isadore and Loretta (Huff) LaFleur in Williston, ND. He graduated from Devils Lake Central High School in 1941. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and was among a select group to serve in the Enlisted Reserve Corp as part of the 20th Air Force providing site observed weather and winds aloft for the B-24s and B-29s in the Pacific. He manned and setup 2-man outposts on Guam, Peleliu, Antigua, and Iwo Jima. While on furlough in Pittsburgh, PA, he met his war bride Gwenn Yeagle, returning a year and a half later to wed in Pittsburgh. Izzy joined the family business in 1947 and spent his entire career guiding the company in the coin operated amusement industry. He was well known throughout the industry as a visionary among his many contemporaries. Izzy also believed in community service. He was dedicated to the Lake Region Community College. He always commented “education is the foundation of a community”. He was a member of the Community Development Corporation and was instrumental in the formation of the Devils Lake Industrial Park. Izzy also loved sports, especially the youth programs and the development which occurred through participation. He was Chairman of the Lake Region Recreation Center, Inc. which was the arm that made the construction and fund raising of the Burdick Arena possible. Upon its completion, the arena was given to the Park District debt free and state of the art. He served as Sec/Treas. of the North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association for over a decade. He enjoyed running the penalty box equally as long, standing there in his Siberian hat and coat offering advice on and off the ice. He enjoyed being in the peppermint lounge between periods of the games listening to all his buddies. Izzy loved his Mason, Shrine and Jester brothers and their wives. His passion was the Flag Corp and his friends. His bass drum for the Shriners will beat eternally. Izzy was also a trustee with the Westminster Presbyterian Church, member of the Kem Temple, Devils Lake Rotary Club, Devils Lake Elks Club, Devils Lake Eagles Club, and many other organizations. Izzy is survived by his wife Gwenn of 67 years, daughter Betty Jo (Chuck) Erickson, son Boyd, daughter-in-law Sue and son Rick (Shirley); grandchildren Stacy (Gary) Ladabouche, Rutland, VT, CDR Brian (Erika) Erickson, Honolulu, HI, Kevin (Erica) Erickson, Westminster, CO, Nathan LaFleur, Blake (Megan) LaFleur, both of Devils Lake, Brittin (Brock) Callina Grand Forks, ND, Lindsay (MAJ Mark) McDaniel, Atlanta, GA, Alexis (SSG Bill) Dion, Dustin (Derissa) LaFleur both of Devils Lake, Leslie LaFleur, Seattle, WA; 15 great grandchildren; sister Jean Glasscock, Bellingham, WA; sister-in-law Betty (Bob) Mechling, Brentwood, TN as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Isadore and Loretta and sister Willow “Pat” Meeker. Pallbearers: Grandchildren Stacy Ladabouche, CDR Brian Erickson, Kevin Erickson, Nathan LaFleur, Blake LaFleur, Brittin Callina, Lindsay McDaniel, Dustin LaFleur, Lexie Dion, Leslie LaFleur, and Allan Thompson, Mike Connor and Bill Wakefield. Assisting Pallbearers will be Tom Wade, Jim Hunt, Norris Fagerland, Larry Larson, Kenny Koehn, Greg Otis, Dr. Tom Corbett, the Al Strong Family, Neil Thompson Family, Leevers Family, Roberts Family, Jerome Family and the Goulding Family. Honorary Bearers are the past and present members of the Lake Region Flag Corps. Music will be provided by Tom Wade, vocalist and Lynda Pearson, pianist. Memorials may be directed to the Lake Region State College Foundation.