John Francis LaQua, 85, died on Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 7 pm in Plymouth, Minnesota.
The loving son of Ann Appolonia Kinn LaQua and Frank Joseph LaQua, John was born on September 20, 1922 in Hankinson, N. Dak. Graduating from St. Francis Academy in Hankinson, he attended Wahpeton State School of Science. He was a member of the 1941 Golden Gloves Boxing State Champions. John enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He served in the Administrative Command, 7th Amphibious Force, US Pacific Fleet, and was honorably discharged in 1946.
John was united in holy matrimony to Marlys Delores Kutter LaQua, his life-long love, on June 11, 1949. One of the great, enduring romances, they loved to travel and visit old, classical hotels, whose cities spoke of history and tradition. Happily and gratefully, they were married 58 years. They moved to Grand Forks, and John attended Law School at the University of North Dakota. In 1951, they ventured to Langdon, N. Dak. A member of the North Dakota Bar Association, John later became a partner with Robert Q. Price in the law firm of Price & LaQua. They worked together for over 50 years. For the first 20 years, he served as Assistant District Attorney. Later, in private practice, he was recognized as an authority in the field of federal income tax law and regulations, receiving a Class A Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. John ended his practice in 2006, having practiced law for 55 years.
John was a member of the American Legion, and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus of St. Alphonsus Parish. He also served for a time as the parish’s attorney. The fond father of his four children, he served as a wrangler for his children’s ponies, a hunter and fisherman and, nearly 50, began down hill skiing with his children. He took pride in teaching them to think, “analytically.” A voracious reader, he could be found reading to his grandchildren. Often, a paperback could be seen peeking from his back pocket. A WWII veteran and member of the “Greatest Generation,” he was an avid student of war history, describing battles and military strategies at length. He retained a vast love and granite hard respect for the country he had defended, personifying that generation’s characteristics of personal responsibility and deep patriotism.
Preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Ann, and his cherished wife Marlys, he is survived by his children, son, Keith (Los Angeles, CA.) daughter, Colette and her husband, Lee Goderstad, (Roseville, MN) daughter, Jeannine and her husband, John Sherman, (Plymouth, MN,) son, John Jr., (Plymouth, MN) and grandchildren, Linnea and Lily Goderstad, Ian, Drew, and Paige LaQua, Katharine Sherman, and his brother, also a retired attorney, Vincent LaQua, his wife Beth, (Hankinson, ND) and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Visitation will begin at 6:00pm, with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm, to be held at the Brooks Funeral Home, in Langdon, ND on Monday, August 25, 2008. Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10 am at St. Alphonsus Church, followed by a luncheon reception. The burial internment will be performed on the same day, Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 6 PM in Hankinson, ND at the Calvary Cemetery.
The family humbly requests that memorials be made to the Cavalier County Memorial Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota/North Dakota in lieu of flowers.
