George R. Lanthier

Born April 13, 1937 in Tupper Lake, he was the son of Wilfred and Gladys (Hunkin) Lanthier. George attended hHigh school in Tupper Lake and helped his dad on the Lanthier Farm.

He went on to work at Bethlehem Steel in Buffalo, from 1954 to 1960 until being drafted into the U.S. Army. George was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas and later in Denver, Colo. He returned to Tupper Lake in 1965 and was employed by the Altamont Milk Co. until 1969.

On Feb. 27, 1960 he married the former Clara Mae Stevens. In 1969, George went into the logging business and worked for a number of Logging Contractors, before going into his own logging business with his brother Donald, retiring in 1995. Following his retirement from logging, he stayed busy helping out his son with his painting business and rode the BOCES school bus as a bus monitor.

George was the kindest, gentlest man. He always had a smile for everyone. You would always see him in the stands watching his grandchildren playing sports. Papa wouldn’t miss a game, no matter the weather. His family was his life.

Clara and George had a love for each other that we all could only wish to have. He married the love of his life. He will be forever missed and loved.

He is survived by his wife Clara of 54 years; two daughters: Shari Desmarais and her companion James Wilson and Tammy Breton and husband Bill; one son, Eric Lanthier and his companion Eileen Dempsey; six grandchildren: Rachel Gnann (Jacob), Kellee Desmarais (Jamie Latinville), Sgt. Jordan Clark (Emily), Andrew Clark, Chantel Staves (Ryan) and Stephanie Breton (Nathan); four great-grandchildren; three brothers: John (Naoma), Donald and Isidore (Trudy) Lanthier; four sisters: Reta Root, Eleanor Gilbert, Linda Lanthier and Sue (Charles) Gillis; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; one brother Robert; one son-in-law Gerald Desmarais; two brothers-in-law: John Gilbert and Lawrence Root; and one sister-in-law Joanne Lanthier.

There was a celebration of life on Feb. 19 at the V.F.W.

Memorial donations can be made to the humane society and the Tupper Lake rescue squad.