Kenneth I. Lapan

1928 – 2019

AGAWAM – Kenneth I. Lapan, 90, died Sunday morning in a local nursing home.  Ken was born in Colchester, VT, the youngest of five children to the late Leo and Myrtle (Letourneau) Lapan.  His parents died when he was a young child and he grew up on the family farm in Williston, VT.  He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 19 and served 20 years during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  He married Mary Maher of Holyoke in 1953, retired from the Navy in 1968 and settled in Southwick.  Active in community sports, he coached and umpired baseball, operated the concessions stand at the town recreation center.  He briefly worked at W.R. Grace Company before going to work for Spaulding Sporting Goods as the Plant Manager for the Golf Ball Division.  After his retirement from Spaulding, he resettled in Haines City, FL.  He and his wife Mary were active communicants of the Catholic Congregations in Southwick, Agawam and Winter Haven, FL.  Ken was an avid sports fan and played several sports in the Navy, including baseball and softball.  He was also an avid bowler and golfer.  His wife Mary (Maher) Lapan died in 2016.  He leaves his children David and Kevin Lapan, Susan Saloio and Cindi Kuenzi; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.   Besides his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Alberta, Donald, Addie and Richard.  The committal service will be held in the Chapel of the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Agawam on Monday, July 29 ^th at 10:00am.  There are no calling hours and the Agawam Curran-Jones Funeral Home is handling all arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Homebase.org.