Two Rivers Historical Society

Mr. La Fond was born in Two Rivers on January 4, 1900, the son of the late Henry and Minnie Krueger La Fond. He attended St. Luke Parochial School and Two Rivers High School. He just reached his 16th birthday when he left high school in 1917 to enlist in the Navy in World War I. He served for three years in the Atlantic aboard a transport vessel.

Returning to Two Rivers, he joined his father in one of the oldest commercial fishing enterprises in Two Rivers. Butch was the fourth generation of his family to continue in the fishing industry. Mr. La Fond’s skirmishes with the Wisconsin Conservation Commission were numerous.

BUTCH LA FOND was also the name of a Two Rivers fishing tug built by Burger Boat Co. in 1930 for Everett La Fond, and owned by La Fond-Kreisa Fish Co. The tug measured 42 ft. x 12 ft. and was equipped with a 50-60 hp Kahlenberg oil engine. In 1935 Mr. La Fond patented a float for commercial fish nets to reduce floats from tangling and ripping nets.

In the earlier 1920’s he became a member of the late Dr. Delmore’s American Legion basketball team which won the state professional championship several years later at Fond du Lac. He was also well-known as a baseball umpire.

Mr. La Fond was one of the area’s most colorful personalities and didn’t stand for any guff from anyone. La Fond was first elected to the County Board in 1934 and served until 1947 when he became a state senator serving in Madison. While in the Senate, he was responsible for the earlier construction in the county of concrete pavement on numerous state highways.

In 1939 the federal government decided to build a new Coast Guard Station, leaving the older building for sale. Everett La Fond talked to Senators LaFollette and Wiley and Congressman Joshua Johns in regard to the transfer of the old building to the Vets Club for a new Clubhouse. In the 1940’s Butch La Fond was state inspector of all 89 VFW posts.

Several years ago, La Fond envisioned a junior college for Two Rivers. Against the advice of his wife, he left his bed to plead the case before the County Board for the choice of “College Hill” as the site for the University of Wisconsin Extension Center, which was voted down.

Everette “Butch” La Fond, died at age 60, of a ‘very rare ailment’ according to his physician. Throughout Sunday he hemorrhaged internally before being removed to the hospital.

Surviving him was his wife, the former Thelma Koeser of Two Rivers whom he married here October 9, 1920; two daughters, Mrs. Pershing Muench of Washington, Missouri, and Mrs. Adolph Zellner of Billings, Montana; a sister, Mrs. Edward Kreisa of Two Rivers and six grandchildren. A son, Warren, died in 1922 at the age of 16 months.