Joseph Charles LaFontaine, Jr, 75, died peacefully on October 11, 2019 at around 5:00 PM at Parkview Hospital.  Joe was born on February 19, 1944, the first son of Joseph Charles LaFontaine, Sr and Dorothy Marie LaFontaine.  Joe grew up in Fort Wayne and graduated from Central High School in 1962.  He was employed by the Fort Wayne Community Schools as a maintenance specialist from 1962 to 1965.  From 1965 to 1967, after being drafted during the expansion of the Vietnam war, Joe, after basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he served in the US Army as a personnel specialist at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

After receiving an honorable discharged, Joe again worked for the Fort Wayne Community Schools from 1967 to 1972.  In 1972, Joe started an inside maintenance and lawn care business called LaFontaine Enterprises.  Joe successfully managed this business for 25 years.  In 1997 he returned to the Fort Wayne Community Schools as a maintenance specialist.  He retired from this job in 2009.  Joe was a avid lifetime late model stock car racing enthusiast.  Over the years he had built, owned and raced several late model stock cars winning several championships.  Prior to his death, he was still involved in a racing partnership where he was responsible for the engines.  This was a true love of his.

After retirement, Joe became involved in operating a booth at a local flea market where he met Karen and Chad Weeks and their family.  They all quickly became good friends.  Joe cherished his relationship with her children, Julia, Noah, and Vicki, and considered them his grandchildren.  He also considered Karen and Chad's daughter Vicki's son, Allen, his great grandson.

Survivors include his brother, Thomas Paul LaFontaine of Columbia, Missouri; and first cousins, Gloria Evans of Indianapolis, Indiana, Rosemary Rhoyans of Syracuse, Indiana, and Joyce Stocks of Deland, Florida.

Family will be receiving friends from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2019 in the Community Building at Covington Fuenral Home, 8408 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46804.  Donations in Joe's name can be made to the Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and Adults, a wonderful program that Joe was very impressed with.