Raymond "Bud" Charles LaPlante

Raymond C. “Bud” LaPlante  

Bud, age 84 of Petersburg, Michigan went home to be with the Lord Friday, February 2, 2018, after his long battle with cancer.  He was the eldest child of the late Raymond C. and Catherine (Justen) LaPlante, born July 25, 1933 in Toledo, Ohio.  He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Joy (Rogers) LaPlante.

From an early age, Bud had a love of horses, particularly thoroughbred race horses.  His first horse was kept in his parent’s city backyard when he was a teenager.  At age 18, Bud obtained his trainer license and both trained and raced horses over the years.  He was easily recognized by the cowboy hat and boots he always wore.  For over 35 years, Bud celebrated the Kentucky Derby at his home on the first Saturday in May, with family and friends.

Bud attended Central Catholic High School.  He served our country as an SP3 in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  After his years of service, he returned to Toledo and worked as a delivery boy for Toledo Blue Print and after years of hard work, dedication and his gift for sales, he became owner.  He sold the business and retired in 2002.  Bud was also a life member of the Toledo Old Newsboys Goodfellows Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Catherine, sister Mary Jo and brother in law Glenn Whetsel, sister in law Marie LaPlante,  brother in law Ray Englehardt and grandson Dustin Diesing.

Bud will be deeply missed by his surviving family, wife, siblings; Tom LaPlante and William (Marge Buchanan) LaPlante, Jean Englehardt and Janet LaPlante.  His children Julie (John Albrant) Diesing, Sue (Tom) Ludwig, Lisa Gardner, Angel (Jeff) Miller, Rick (Shamber) LaPlante and Autumn LaPlante.  His stepchildren Ely (Shawna) Manore, Leah Manore, and Tyler (Lindsey) Elliott, nineteen grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Bud was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Temperance, Michigan since 1959.

Friends may join the family for visitation at Reeb Funeral Home on Monday, February 5, 2018 from 4pm until 8pm.  The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Tuesday, February 6th at 11:00 am.  Interment will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery with Military Honors.   

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

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