Donald Kenneth LaPlaunt

Donald Kenneth LaPlaunt, age 87, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, at home in Winlock, Washington. He was born Aug. 7, 1934, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Auney and Isabel (McLeod) LaPlaunt. In his youth, Don had the opportunity to travel with his family and often helped in the operation of the family’s cafe, motel and service station businesses. These locations included Michigan, New Mexico, California and Washington. He was a graduate of North Hollywood High School in 1953. He also attended Pierce Junior College of Agriculture in Canoga Park, California. Don served in the U.S. Army from 1956 until 1959 in Toul, France where he met and married Madeleine Miletic in 1958. Together they had five children and later divorced. Don was employed as a union carpenter following his military service and he was involved in the construction of the Mayfield and Mossyrock dams and the Centralia Steam Electric Plant, Greenhill, Maple Lane, and Centralia and Chehalis high schools. Don married Darlene Roseholt in 1985 adding Darlene’s five children to become a close and fun-loving family. Any opportunity for a gathering was a great joy to everyone. Don was a born again Christian and charter member of Centralia Bible Baptist Church. He was a former member of the local carpenters union, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was also a noted survivor of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and exploring. He was always serving as his own compass and in later years serving as a guide for other outdoorsmen. He is survived by a sister Darlene Wisner of Chehalis, Washington; daughters Marianne Brewer and Michelle (Kevin) Hayes both of Centralia; sons Kenneth (Cindy) LaPlaunt of Savannah, Georgia, Daniel and David LaPlaunt both of NorthWest, Washington; step-daughters Ann Kindred of La Mirada, California, Rhonda Kindred of Centralia, Vanessa (Mark) Kupietz of Winlock, Washington; step-sons Kenneth (Letecia) Kindred of Southern California and Michael (Lisa) Kindred of Lacey, Washington; five grandchildren; 14 stepgrandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Darlene; a brother Alan LaPlaunt; and a stepgrandchild Amy Klopp. A funeral for Don LaPlaunt is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021 at Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary in Centralia. Visitation may be made from 9 a.m. until service time the morning of the service. A luncheon reception will immediately follow the service at Centralia Bible Baptist Church. Interment with military honors are scheduled following the luncheon at 1:30 p.m. at Claquato Cemetery, Chehalis.

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