Robert Edward LaVacque

November 25, 1930 - December 16, 2020

Robert (Bob) Edward LaVacque, 90, passed away on December 16, 2020, at his home in Crystal Falls. Robert was born in Caspian to Joseph and Catherine (Zeni) LaVacque on November 25, 1930. He attended Stambaugh High School graduating in 1948. After graduation, he served in the army medical corps based in San Francisco. He began his higher education at the University of San Francisco, transferred to Michigan State University after he was discharged from the army in 1954, received his bachelor’s degree in 1957 and his master’s degrees in 1960 both from Wayne State University in Detroit. He married Donna Premo on August 28, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan. They settled in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, where they raised their family until they moved back to the Upper Peninsula upon his retirement. He began his career in education teaching science at Harper Woods Junior High from 1957 to 1962. In 1962, he joined the Grosse Point Public School System teaching science at Parcell’s Middle School where he continued to teach until his retirement in 1990. During these years, he continued to further his education attending summer classes at Northern Michigan University and Michigan Technological University. Throughout the years, he enjoyed many interests such as hunting, fishing, and gambling. He mostly loved living close to his grandchildren and watching them grow. Robert is survived by his wife of 66 years, Donna, and his three children Scott (Laurie) of Gladstone; Gregg (Tina) of Crystal Falls; and his daughter Beth (Lenny) Basirico of Crystal Falls. He is also survived by his sister, Beverly Przybylski of St. Petersburg, Florida, and his sister-in-law Sue LaVacque of Sun City, Arizona. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Drew (Trisha) LaVacque of Gladstone; Abby (Eryk) LaVacque of Escanaba; Kalie (Rusty) LaVacque of Crystal Falls; Kyle LaVacque of Newberry; Kurt (Destanye) LaVacque of Austin, Texas; Dustin (Sydney) Basirico of Wausau, Wisconsin; Brooke (Eric) Basirico of Iron Mountain; and Devon Basirico of Crystal Falls. In addition, he is survived by four great grandchildren: Collin and Chloe Alexa, Benjamin Basirico, and Logan Schneider. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Catherine LaVacque and by his brother Kenneth LaVacque, sister-in-law Jackie (Franzene) LaVacque, and brother Marvin LaVacque. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. The family has entrusted the Nash Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Crystal Falls with arrangements.