Paul Alan LaBine

Paul Alan LaBine

WAKEFIELD, Mich. — Paul Alan LaBine, 57, of Watersmeet, Michigan, started his journey to the Spirit World on Jan. 9, 2018, with his family at his bedside from the Gogebic County Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.

Paul Alan LaBine was born in the Ontonagon Memorial Hospital in Ontonagon, Michigan, to Beatrice and Cecil LaBine on June 28, 1960. He attended the Ewen-Trout Creek Senior High School in Ewen, Michigan, and graduated with the class of 1978.

He was then employed by either the Sokaogon Chippewa Community in Mole Lake, Wisconsin, or the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Watersmeet, Michigan, in numerous positions. He enjoyed teaching and working with the youth in the local community; he looked forward to cleaning fish during the spring walleye harvest, fishing and maintaining the Pow Wow grounds during the summer, parching and cleaning wild rice during the fall, ice fishing and organizing ice fishing tournaments during the winter, and riding his four-wheeler.

He is survived by his mother, Beatrice (Bill) Bailey, of Watersmeet; two brothers, Roger (Tina) LaBine, of Trout Creek, and Wayne (Denise) LaBine, of Mole Lake, Wis., and one sister, Terry (Charlie) Fox, of Watersmeet, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil LaBine, and nephew, Craig Fox.

The wake will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, in the Lac Vieux Desert Recreation Center for visitation.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, in the Lac Vieux Desert Recreation Center with Robert VanZile Sr. conducting the ceremonies. Burial will follow at the Lac Vieux Desert Cemetery located on Lake Lac Vieux Desert at the Traditional Indian Village.

The family of Paul Alan LaBine wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Cypress Manor/Lighthouse Facility staff, Gogebic County Medical Care Facility staff, and Regional Hospice Services staff.

The Cane Funeral Home of Bruce Crossing is assisting the family with arrangements.