Lee William LaPrise passed peacefully surrounded by family at the Holyoke Soldiers Home on December16, 2018. Lee was born on October 5, 1923 to William A. LaPrise and Minerva Lee LaPrise in Housatonic, MA and grew up there with sister Jane and brother Paul. Lee graduated from Searles High School in Great Barrington, MA and the University of Maine.
At eighteen years of age Lee enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and entered service in November of 1942. Lee was stationed in Assam in the province of Nepal in June of 1943. As a radio operator Lee flew sixty-one missions over the Himalayas (“the Hump”) with service in China, Burma, and India.
Lee received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory and Good Conduct Medal. Upon return to the U.S. in July of 1944 Lee flew with Air Transport Command to England and Scotland twice returning to India and Burma and to the South Pacific. Lee completed his service in 1945 and in civilian life was an active member in the CBI Vets Association and CT Yankee BASHA.
After military service Lee earned his business degree and enjoyed a successful career in the paper industry. He was a long- time employee of Old Colony Envelope formerly of Westfield, Ma. Upon retirement in 1978 he accepted a Vice President of Marketing position with Niagara Envelope in Buffalo, New York.
He also served as General Manager of the Buffalo Division and member of the Board of Directors for the company divisions in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Jacksonville, Florida. Retiring in 1989 as Executive Vice President Marketing-Corporate Lee returned to New England serving Niagara in a part-time capacity until 1994. Lee was a member of the Westfield Kiwanis Club, the Boston Paper Trade Association, and Engraved Stationary Manufacturers Association of America.
He was an avid Red Sox fan and Connecticut Womens Basketball fan. Lee was predeceased by his beloved first wife and mother to his five children Geraldine (Lutat) La Prise, his second beloved wife Doris (Beaudette) La Prise, his sister Jane (LaPrise) Toolin, and his eldest child Louanne (La Prise) O’Neill. Lee will be sadly missed by friends and associates, nieces and nephews, his surviving brother Paul LaPrise and wife Ruth, his seven grandchildren, Shane, Molly, Shellley, Lauren, Meri, Caroline and John.
His two great granddaughters Ella and Leah, and most especially by his surviving children Suzanne DiSessa and husband Louis of Westfield, MA, David LaPrise and wife Marie of Downington, PA, Thomas LaPrise and Susan Drake Dover Plains, NY, and Timothy LaPrise and wife Maureen of Westfield, MA. Lee’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers, veterans, and veteran family members at the Holyoke Soldiers Home who welcomed Lee and cared for him and his family with abounding love and respect. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday at 1PM in the Firtion Adams FS, 76 Broad ST.
Westfield, followed by burial with Military Honors in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Main St. Agawam, MA. Visiting hours will preceded the service from 11-1PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.
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