Christopher Stephen Lapinski

Christopher Stephen Lapinski, 43, of Lakewood, Colorado, formerly of Austin, MN, passed away suddenly on December 24, 2023, following an unexpected medical event. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Chris was born on November 13, 1980, in DuPage County, Illinois, to the late Russell Lapinski and Jeanette Lapinski. His father passed away in 1984, and in 1990, his mother relocated to Austin, MN, to be closer to her family. As a child, Chris was very loving, kind and patient. He tolerated his younger sister following him and his friends around their neighborhood when they were younger. Chris has always been a hard worker; he started delivering papers around 13 and worked in the fast-food industry until he graduated from Austin High School in 1999.

Following graduation, Chris pursued his passion for automotive technology and attended Universal Technical Institute in Illinois. After completing his certification program, Chris's love for the mountains drew him to Colorado. He deeply appreciated nature and spent his free time mountain biking, hiking, and tending to his garden during the summer months. He had a natural knack for fixing things and was always curious about how things worked; this is what initially led him to the Automotive Technology field. He was currently employed with LivaNova as a lead assembly technician.

Through a mutual friend, he was introduced to the love of his life, Hoa Le. Their first date included a trip to a beach in Vietnam. They continued their long-distance relationship and were later married on November 18, 2012. Their son, Link, born on April 30, 2014, brought Chris immense joy. He adored being a father and cherished every moment spent with his family.

Chris was a man of few words, known for his honesty, loyalty, hard work, and kindness. Chris was an all around great individual. He had a heart of gold and cherished his family above all else. His wife, Hoa Lapinski, and their 9 year-old son, Link, were the center of his world. Chris is also survived by his sister, Mandy (Branden) Strong of Rochester, MN, his stepfather, Robert Divine of Austin, MN, mother-in-law Lao Doan of Lakewood, CO., and his grandmother, June Lapinski of Milwaukee, WI, sister-in-law, Phuong Le (Tommie Beltz), Hong Le, Hue Le (Larry Stout) nephews and nieces Keagan Strong, and Julia Strong, Nova Le Beltz. He was deeply loved by his family and was also very close with his cousins in Illinois.

Chris Lapinski's untimely passing has left a tremendous void in the lives of those who knew and loved him. His memory will be forever cherished by his family, friends, and colleagues.