Robert A. Laplante

Robert A. Laplante passed away at the age of 96 at his home in Manchester. His wife Bertha passed away October 2015, and Bob was looking forward to reuniting with her. His wish was granted June 7, 2017. He missed her dearly and kept a picture of her by his chair in the living room. Faith and family were his top priorities.
Bob was born and raised in Manchester and graduated from West High School in 1938. He worked at the Arms Textile Company in the Manchester mill yard where he met his future wife Bertha. Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy with five neighborhood friends in 1942. He served in North Africa, participated in three amphibious invasions including Sicily, Italy and southern France, and eventually made his way to the Pacific theatre. He served on several ships during his military service, including the USS Samuel Chase, and the USS Colbert. Bob spent 39 months in the U.S. Navy and made several close lifelong friends while he was overseas. Upon his return, Bob and Bertha were married at Sacred Heart Church in May 1946. In 1962, he left Arms Textile to work for the NH Liquor Commission. He was a fixture at the State Liquor Store located at Kidder and Elm Streets in downtown Manchester and eventually was elevated to Assistant Manager, where he worked until his retirement in 1985.
When they were raising their children, Bob and Bertha were particularly fond of weekend family outings with friends and relatives at places like Bear Brook and Pawtuckaway State Parks, excursions to the White Mountains, vacations to Hampton Beach and out-of-state visits to see the families of Bob's Navy buddies. They were marvelous dancing partners and really enjoyed Saturday nights at the Carousel Ballroom. They went everywhere together and seemed inseparable.
They maintained that active lifestyle in retirement often traveling to Florida with friends, visiting their children in Maine, NJ, and California, and in later years playing cards several days a week. Bob was a member of Catholic War Veterans Post 1749 and American Legion Jutras Post #43 and supported their fundraising by working at bingo for many years. Bob was also an active parishioner at St. Marie's Church, volunteering to serve bereavement meals with Bertha for over 20 years.
Bob was a very active 96-year-old with more energy in his 90's than many people 20 years younger. Up until very recently, he mowed his lawn every summer, shoveled snow during the winter, and tended to his yard constantly. He had a great day even on the last day of his life. That day he drove to Panera to visit friends, made his way to a medical appointment, and drove others to play cards and celebrate a birthday that afternoon. Bob lived in the same house he was actually born in where he spent his formative years, where he raised his family, and where he died this week.
Bob was the son of the late John and Aurore (Lacombe) Laplante. He was predeceased by his dear wife Bertha who he was married to for 69 years. Bob is survived by his son John and wife Judy of Portland ME; his daughter Susan Roberts and husband James of Vallejo, CA; and his son Denis and wife Catherine of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; his sister Claire (Laplante) Pinard and husband Roger and sisters-in-law Theresa Doherty, Rosie and Ruth Fournier. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: James and wife Heidi, Andrea and husband Shawn LaPlante, Melissa and husband Nick Rudowski, Aaron Lepage, Ian Roberts and wife Dillon, and Russell, Gregory and wife Lacy, Jacquelyn, and Kenneth Laplante; and five great grandchildren: Jonathan, Charlotte, Levi, Chloe, and Emmeline, and an extended family of nephews and nieces.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at St. Marie Church, 378 Notre Dame Ave. Committal prayers with military honors accorded followed in Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Rd.
Donations may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, 2 Wall St, Suite 104, Manchester, NH 03101.
To send a message of condolence, please go to www.lambertfuneralhome.com.