William Gerare "Bill" LaFave (September 29, 1929 – October 20, 2016) was an American accountant, businessman, and Republican politician from Peshtigo, Wisconsin. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Marinette and Florence counties during the 1969 and 1971 legislative sessions.

William G. LaFave
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the FlorenceMarinette district
In office
January 6, 1969 – January 1, 1973
Preceded byLeslie R. Stevenson
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born(1929-09-29)September 29, 1929
Kingsford, Michigan, U.S.
DiedOctober 20, 2016(2016-10-20) (aged 87)
Wisconsin
Resting placeAllouez Catholic Cemetery, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Shirley Ann Germain
(m. 1953; died 2009)
Children10
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
United States Navy Reserve

Biography

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William LaFave was born September 29, 1929, in Kingsford, Michigan. He was raised and educated there, graduating from Kingsford High School in 1947. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy. After leaving active duty, he remained in the United States Navy Reserve for several years and went on to attend the Badger Green Bay Business College in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was married in 1953 and briefly moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after the wedding, where he was employed as an accountant.[1]

He ultimately returned to Green Bay and changed careers in 1961, working for several years as a Wisconsin State Patrol officer, before moving further north to Marinette County, Wisconsin, where he worked for the local police department and later became a captain in the county traffic patrol department.[2]

In 1968, incumbent Marinette County state representative Leslie R. Stevenson announced he would not run for re-election. LaFave faced two other Republican candidates in the primary, including Roy H. Sengstock, who had previously served five terms in the Assembly as a representative of Marinette County. LaFave managed to prevail with 43% of the vote, finishing 183 votes ahead of Sengstock, and easily won the November general election, receiving 64% of that vote.[3] He went on to win re-election in 1970, facing opponents in both the primary and general elections.[4] After the major redistricting act in 1971, LaFave's district was divided in half, with his area of eastern Marinette County incorporated into what became the 88th Assembly district. LaFave announced in March 1972 that he would not run for re-election in the new district,[5] and he left office in January 1973.

After leaving office, he worked in real estate and taught police science at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. In his later years he also became involved in several charitable and community service programs.[6]

He died October 20, 2016.[6]

Personal life and family

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William LaFave was one of four children born to William J. and Florence (née Beauchamp) LaFave.

William LaFave married Shirley Ann Germain on May 9, 1953, they met while he was attending business school in Green Bay.[1] They had ten children together and were married for 56 years before her death in 2009. All ten children survived them, along with 32 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.[6]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (1968, 1970)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1968[3] Primary Sep. 10 William G. LaFave Republican 2,318 42.77% Roy H. Sengstock Rep. 2,135 39.39% 5,420 183
Irvin H. Peth Rep. 967 17.84%
General Nov. 5 William G. LaFave Republican 10,115 64.51% Ralph Staudenmaier Dem. 5,565 35.49% 15,680 4,550
1970[4] Primary Sep. 8 William G. LaFave (inc) Republican 3,740 57.31% Richard P. Matty Rep. 2,786 42.69% 6,526 954
General Nov. 3 William G. LaFave (inc) Republican 8,406 62.83% William H. Reines Dem. 4,972 37.17% 13,378 3,434

References

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  1. ^ a b "Newlyweds to Reside in Milwaukee". Green Bay Press-Gazette. May 9, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Zahorik, Pat (August 16, 1967). "Motorists Get Safety Message on Marrinette-Co. Police Cars". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1970). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin 1970 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 803, 818. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1971 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 1971. pp. 302, 319. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "William LaFave Won't Run Again". Wisconsin State Journal. March 15, 1972. p. 42. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "William LaFave Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the FlorenceMarinette district
January 6, 1969 – January 1, 1973
District abolished