Mr. A. J. Paul LaPrairie

Peacefully on October 5, 2013, age 93, at Sunnybrook Veterans Residence, Toronto. Beloved husband of the late Jean Silk LaPrairie (1989), he leaves behind his children Christopher LaPrairie (Vancouver), Margaret and Wayne Rudnitski (Schomberg), and John LaPrairie and Lauren Bates (Toronto), his grandchildren Sean and Malcolm LaPrairie, Alyson and Shane Rudnitski , his sister Jacqueline O’Donoghue (Calgary), brothers Richard, Leon (Toronto), George (Vancouver), Clifford (Yukon) and more than 60 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Jules and Carl, and sister Rosemary.

Born in Montreal in 1919, raised in Timmins and Toronto the oldest of 9 children. While in high school, he joined the Irish Regiment of Canada, serving from 1939-1945 in World War II; England, Italy, North Africa and Holland. He was awarded nine medals and achieved the rank of Major. Near the end of the war, he personally negotiated the surrender of an opposition unit and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions.

Upon return, he finished high school, worked in Yukon mines, earned a degree in mining engineering at the University of Toronto (1950) and was the founder of the Lady Godiva Memorial Band. He went on to an M.B.A. from Harvard (1953). In Boston he met and married Jean, eventually settling in Toronto, with a career in engineering, serving as President of the Construction Safety Association of Ontario, a member of the Board of Directors at Bloorview Children’s Hospital, and as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Irish Regiment of Canada. He had a lifelong love of learning, earning his third university degree, a B.A.in history, at age 81, from the University of Toronto.

The family extends appreciation to the compassionate and caring Sunnybrook Veterans Residence L Wing team and Paul’s outstanding caregiver, Brenda Gunther.

Friends may call at the TRULL “NORTH TORONTO” FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE, 2704 Yonge Street, (5 blocks south of Lawrence Ave.) on Wed. Oct. 9 from 5-8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH (Yonge St. south of Lawrence Ave.), Toronto, Thurs. Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. A reception to celebrate his life will follow. Donations may be made to the Salvation Army.

Online condolences may be made at www.trullfuneralsyonge.com.