LaQUIERE, JOSEPH G. January 28, 2014 Age 69 Beloved husband of Mary. Dear father of Joseph (Kelley), Janice LaQuiere, John (Bethany), James (Maureen) and Joy Krueger (Shane). Loving grandfather of eleven. Brother of Jerry (Donna). Children in spirit, the Jonathan and Cindy Arntz family. Funeral service Friday 12 noon at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods. Visitation Thursday 1:30- 9 pm. Interment Clinton Grove Cemetery. Joseph Gerard LaQuiere of Saint Clair Shores, entered the glorious presence of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ on January 28, 2014 at age 69, as the result of a heart attack on January 7, 2014. He is the very wonderful and beloved husband of Mary. Loving, wonderful and involved father of Joseph (Kelley), Janice LaQuiere, John (Bethany), James (Maureen), Joy (Shane) Krueger; Devoted and involved grandfather to Grace, Joseph, Justus, Jesse, Amy, Alayna, Judah, Abigail, Luke, James and Gerald; father in spirit to Jon and Cindy Arntz and children Maureen (James) LaQuiere, Hannah, Katy (Chad) Krueger, Jonathan, Julia, Ruth, Angela, Daniel and Jason; and spiritual father to many others he held dear. Brother to Jerry (Donna) and their children Jennifer (Andrew) Tramell, Anita (Jason) Jordan, Jerry Wayne (Ashley) LaQuiere, Amanda (David) Rodriguez and 13 grandnieces and nephews; sister-in-law Carolyn Setters and nephew Joseph "Phil" Setters. Joe was born on November 4, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, the oldest son of Joseph and Ruth LaQuiere. He grew up in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, in a house built by his parents. It was here his father taught him how to pray, and where his mother would read the Scriptures to his brother and him. At a young age, his parents started Joe and Jerry on accordion lessons and summer weekends would be spent at home watching for pigeons returning home from the racing competitions his father enjoyed. As the boys grew older much of the family activity would center around the accordion; the lessons, the contests, the practicing. Joe's father viewed the accordion as the tool his boys would need to keep them out of "the shop," He wanted a better future for them than the long days he spent at the GM Willow Run plant. Joe attended South Lake High School, and while in band he met Mary Louise Gefeke. He was attracted to her sweetness and purity. Shortly after high school, his parent's dream of their boys owning a business became a reality. In April 1964 Joe and his brother took initiative and opened their first music store in a little shopping center on Utica Rd just south of Garfield and Olympic Music was born. About the same time the owner of The Little School of Music, on Nine Mile in St. Clair Shores (now Kroger), where Joe was teaching accordion, decided to retire and Joe and Jerry bought it. Their parents then gathered together their resources; time, money and labor, and late that same year the family began construction of their first commercial building on Greater Mack in St. Clair Shores. The next year, 1965, the family built a second building at Harper and 13 Mile and relocated the Fraser store. On June 20th of that same year, 1965, Joe married the love of his life, Mary Gefeke. Two years later, in 1967 another generation began with the birth of Joe and Mary's first son, Joseph. In 1969 Joe moved his family back into his childhood home on Maxine, when the opportunity arose for his parents to purchase the home next door. Joe considered living next to his parents one of the greatest blessings of his life. In 1970 Joe and Mary had a daughter Janice, followed by son John in 1977, son James in 1980 and daughter Joy in 1983. The family continued to operate both music stores until 1978 when they sold the music business and leased the properties. Both Joe, his brother and their wives became real estate agents and opened up Award Realty. Through Award Realty they would buy, build, lease, and manage commercial and residential property, continuing to work as a family, with parents, brother's family, children and grandchildren to build a future for the generations to come. Most importantly, Joe worked diligently and passionately to build a spiritual future and legacy for his family and others. He constantly sought truth and applied it to life. He spent hours in heart to heart conversation with the many people who came into his life. With his wife by his side, he became a spiritual father to many and cared deeply for the needs of others. As his children married and grandchildren were born, his life became more and more enriched as he maintained his loving care and involvement in all of their lives. Like any true leader, his life was given in the service and care of those brought into this life. He was a man of love, wisdom and devotion. He cherished and enjoyed to the full, the life that God had given him, in daily fellowship with his children, grandchildren, family and friends. He believed in the Scripture: "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think...Unto him be glory. Amen." Throughout his life, Joe saw the goodness of God rain on him in exceeding abundance. He believes we are created in the image of God, therefore we are made to be good, for God is Good! It was not in the "big moments" of life in which he shined (although he shined there, too) it was the everyday moments, his pat on the top of your head, the child he rode on his bike, the squeeze he gave his wife and his warm infectious smile. Yes, God is so very Good!
Funeral Home:
A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe
20705 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
US 48236
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