John A. Lagina

John A. LaGina of Mt. Clemens, formerly of Caro, age 97, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at McLaren-Macomb Hospital in Mt. Clemens, following a lingering illness. John was born December 10, 1915 in Chisholm, Minnesota, the son of the late Mathue & Helen (Medvidich) LaGina. John grew up surrounded by six sisters and was the only boy in the family. Two of his sisters lived in the farming community of Unionville. After several moves with the rest of the family to various cities and states, John moved in the early 1930's to Michigan and lived in the Gagetown, Colwood area. He worked by the day and month on various farms until 1939, then moved to Cleveland, Ohio until the beginning of World War II. John was inducted into the Army in Caro in October of 1942 and served until he was discharged in February of 1946. After taking some time off after the war, John took a job with A&P Company in Caro, where he ran the egg station until he opened his own egg station in 1949. He continued to operate that station for the next several years until he decided to give the business up and devote full time to the Bowling Center in Caro. John was the co-owner of Harmony Hill Bowling in Caro for many years with Harold "Potsy" Keinath. While in Caro, John was a member of the St. Agatha Church in Gagetown, the Knights of Columbus in Caro, Caro American Legion Post #7, Caro VFW Post #4164, and the Caro Board of Commerce. In the early 1970's, John moved to live in the Marysville, Mt. Clemens area. John was united in marriage to the former Marjorie Pine on February 9, 1977 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She preceded him in death May 4, 2005. John is survived by three step-children and their spouses, Jerilyn & Ray Smith of Hemet, California, Debra & Howard Waters of Irvine, California, Ronald & Vicki Rach of Chesterfield, Michigan; seven step-grandchildren, nine step-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, John was preceded in death by his six sisters, six step-brothers and five step-sisters. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at St. Agatha Catholic Church in Gagetown with Rev. Dennis Kucharczyk officiating. Burial will follow at St. Agatha Cemetery in Gagetown with military honors provided by Caro American Legion Post #7 and the U.S. Army. The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Visitation Information Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 Time: 10:00 am End Time: 11:00 am The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Service Information Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 Time: 11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at St. Agatha Catholic Church in Gagetown with Rev. Dennis Kucharczyk officiating. Cemetery Information Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 Burial will follow at St. Agatha Cemetery in Gagetown with military honors provided by Caro American Legion Post #7 and the U.S. Army.