Guy LaFrance

Guy “Gee” LaFrance, 88, of Louisville, KY, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, at Forest Springs Health Campus, surrounded by his children. He was born May 22, 1937, in Fort Frances, Ontario, to Medora and Arthur LaFrance, the youngest of nine children. He lived most of his adult life in Minneapolis, before moving to Louisville in 2007 to be closer to his family.

Guy graduated from Fort Frances High School in 1956 before earning a hockey scholarship to the University of North Dakota. In 1959, he was a member of UND’s first national championship hockey team, scoring the goal that sent the team to the finals and assisting on the championship-winning goal in overtime.

Following his graduation from UND in 1960, he went on to play hockey for the Minneapolis Millers, St. Paul Saints, and St. Paul Steers. In 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda (Shelfantook) LaFrance. Guy and Linda spent two winters in Klagenfurt, Austria where he played hockey for the Klagenfurt Austria Hockey Club and then moved to Minneapolis in 1966 to raise their children. In 2002, Guy was inducted into the University of North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame.

Guy went on to be a scout in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques and remained an avid hockey and sports fan for life. He will be most remembered for his sense of humor, kind demeanor, easy going personality, and gentle spirit. “Gee” made every room better and brought a sense of joy and laughter wherever he went.

Guy's most treasured times were spent with his family, playing cribbage with friends at his cabin on Rainy Lake, and in his later years with his beloved cat, Vincent. In the years since his wife's passing in 2020, he was fortunate to have several exceptional caregivers. Each one grew to love Guy deeply just as all who knew him did.

Guy was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Linda; parents; four sisters, Rita Ruelle, Claudia Domanski, Cecile Vavricka, and Noella Northcott; and four brothers, Leo, Daniel, Dennis “Buzz” and Pete LaFrance. He is survived by his children, Lisa McGee (John Salzman) of Louisville and Kevin LaFrance; 5 grandchildren, Kelly and Molly McGee, Corbin, Katelyn, and Cameryn LaFrance, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

A private celebration of life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Animal Care Society of Louisville, KY.

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