James “Red” LaLonde

Resided in Gladstone, MI
Died December 15, 2023

Gladstone, MI

James Clayton “Red” LaLonde passed away peacefully at home surrounded by  his loving wife and family on December 15, 2023 at the age of 90.

Red was born May 26, 1933 to Clayton and Marion (Smith) LaLonde in Escanaba, MI. He attended All Saints Catholic School until the eighth grade. It was there he met the love of his life Abie Bratonia. He always said it was her dark hair and yellow sweater that caught his eye. On May 19, 1951 Monsignor Matt LaViolette united them in marriage and he returned to Gladstone High School on Monday morning to finish out his senior year.

After graduation, Red and Abie moved into their first apartment paying $28.00 a month in rent. After one year, they decided to purchase Red’s childhood home that he meticulously remodeled all while filling it with their 3 children, Cindy Stemac (LaLonde), Debbie Weber (LaLonde) and Doug LaLonde. In 1967, while picking his daughter Cindy up from a friend’s house, it was then he discovered the property on North Bluff Drive and decided to build a family home on the bluff edge. In 1968, they moved in and for 55 years he sipped a cup of coffee enjoying the view. Red was extremely handy with the hammer and helped his children build their homes, camps and various remodeling projects.

Red started working for the Delta Reporter making fifty cents an hour and worked upwards of 70 hours per week, He decided in 1955 to move onto the Daily Press to which he worked as an ad setter for 39 years before retiring in 1994.

Red was a devoted athlete and dedicated a lot of his childhood to playing sports. He pitched for the Buckeye Cardinals during his younger years and finished out playing for the Gladstone Redskins. He was also a track athlete and medaled in many events. The pinnacle of his sporting career was being part of the first Gladstone Hall of Fame 1950 basketball team which finished their season 13-1. During the same induction, he was also able to share in the joy of watching his eldest grandchild, Ginger Moore (Weber) be inducted for her basketball accomplishments at Gladstone.

Red was a family man spending a lot of time at Camp 7 but they never missed a Sunday mass. They would attend church in Cooks and enjoy an ice cream cone afterwards. He was an enthusiastic Green Bay Packer fan and a die-hard Michigan fan. GO BLUE! His biggest joy was attending the grandchildren’s sporting events.

Red took great pride in being a coin collector for over fifty years. He attended many coin shows but cherished traveling to the Deerborn Coin Show. They would venture to stay with his brother (T.J. LaLonde) in Ann Arbor on Thanksgiving day and packed cold sandwiches for the ride. Red spent hours browsing the coin show while Abie spent her time Christmas shopping for their 7 grandchildren and family.

Red was preceded in death by his Parents, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Albert and Margaret Bratonia, Brother, T.J., Sister, Jonita (Walter) Rodgers, Shirley (Dr. Charles) Pechous. In-laws, James “Barney” Bratonia, Francis Bratonia, Mary Lou “KoKo” (Jack) Lafond and Mary Bratonia. Son-in-law, Robert Stemac, and one infant Grandchild.

Survivors include his loving Wife and best friend of 72 years Abie LaLonde, his three Children, Cindy Stemac, Debbie (Mark) Weber and Doug (Sue) LaLonde. Sister, Joy Wood of Saint Joseph, MI and Brother-in-law, Dennis Bratonia. His seven Grandchildren, Ginger (Chris) Moore of Iron Mountain, Kelly (Ryan) Jahner of Green Bay, Brianne (Walley) Helmila of Greenville, WI, Michael Stemac, Rachel (Michael) Johns, Erica (Joseph) Skellenger, Nikki (Josh) Martin all of Gladstone, MI, 11 Great Grandchildren and many Nieces, Nephews, and friends.

Family will receive friends on Friday, February 2, 2024 from 2:30 until 4:30 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. A memorial mass will follow at 5:00 PM at the All Saints Catholic Church. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Red will be laid to rest in the Fernwood Cemetery in the Spring. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the LaLonde family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to UP Health Systems Hospice, 901 South Lincoln Road Suite 1, Escanaba, MI 49829.

6 Tributes for “James “Red” LaLonde”

    I feel lucky to say I knew Jim under three circumstances. First, as a neighbor. He and his family lived on top of the North Bluff; me and the Verhamme family lived on the bottom. Next, as a coworker at the Daily Press. And, somewhere along the way, we became friends. Jim and his entire family embodied the word “nice.” Hope to be able to forever keep those memories.

    Jim was a fantastic guy and the closest thing I ever had to a grandfather. I enjoyed listening to his stories of the “old days” and truthfully, I could have sat and just listened to him for hours. The stories were always about more difficult times but the moral was always that he was happy and never knew any different. He was content and proud of everything he had and all that he had accomplished and I will be forever grateful for the lessons I took away from him and his attitude. His generation is called the “greatest generation” for many reasons including work ethic, integrity, faith and humility and Jim exemplified all of these. I will miss him so much. Lots of love to Grandma “ABC” and the whole family.

    Abie and family, we are so sad to hear of Red passing, I am going to miss picking Reds knowledge of his many years of collecting coins and talking and having coffee and cookies with Him and Abie. He will forever be remembered as a good and honorable man and will always be in our prayers.

    Debbie, Mark, Ginger, Brianne and families, cherish the memories and love you enjoyed over the years with your Dad/grandfather/great grandfather. It is a tough time in life when a loved one passes. He was a great and dedicated man; he was proud of each of you. When I read “Red helped his family building” I do remember him helping build your house and thinking how nice! Love and memories live on. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love from Karen, Den and family.

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