William E. Lanoue Jr., 81

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — William E. Lanoue Jr., 81, of Monroe Street, North Adams, died Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at North Adams Commons.  

He was born in North Adams on April 23, 1935 a son to the late William E. and Rose (Pugliese) Lanoue. He attended local schools and graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1953. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Lake Champlain from 1955-1960.

Mr. Lanoue graduated from the Sprague Franklin advanced course in tool and die and mold making. He was a Senior Tool and Die Maker employed by Sprague Electric until its closing, General Electric, and then Pierce Machine in Adams, Mass. After his retirement he manned the front desk at Mass MoCA.

Mr. Lanoue was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in North Adams. He enjoyed ice fishing with his late father at their winter camp in Vermont. He also enjoyed target shooting with friends. He was a former member of the North Adams American Legion, Post 125.

Survivors include his wife, Janet (Crews) Lanoue, whom he married on June 8, 1963, in the St. Francis of Assisi Church in North Adams; his daughter, Karen Schaffrick and her husband Mark of Windsor, Mass.; a son, Richard William Lanoue of North Adams; a brother, Allen Lanoue and his wife Joyce of Danville, Va.; a sister, Donna Putnam and her husband Herbert of North Adams and the state of Florida; as well as nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

He was predeceased by a sister, Prudence Lanoue, who died February 24, 1986.

Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 27, 2017, at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, North Adams. There are no calling hours and burial will be at a later date with full military honors.

Memorial donations can be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Shriner’s Hospital for Children through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapel, 74 Marshall St. North Adams.