Obituaries

Obituary: Donald A. La Mere ("The Candyman")

Mass of Christian burial is scheduled for Friday Aug. 3, at 11 a.m. at The Church of St Bartholomew in Wayzata.

Donald A. La Mere ("The Candyman"), age 75 of Plymouth, has died peacefully of a 2009 brain injury incurred on a hunting trip.  

A graduate of Minneapolis South High School, Class of 1954, Donald served in the U. S.  Army's 82nd Airborne, Ft. Bragg, NC from 1955-1957. He was married to Karen Rossing in 1958 and started in a candy sales career with Brach's Candy Co. in 1961.

He joined Harvey Winchell Candy Brokerage in 1971, shortly assuming the role as president until his retirement in 2002. Donald was an active member of the Gopher Candy Club and was honored by the candy industry as a recipient of the Golden Candy Dish Award from the National Candy Association in 2010.

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An avid outdoorsman, Don loved hunting of all kinds and enjoyed his many friends in Mobridge—fishing salmon on Lake Michigan aboard the French Ace with family and friends, snowmobiling especially in West Yellowstone and target practice at Oakdale Gun Club. He was also a long-time member of Golden Valley Country Club. 

Don was affectionately known by young  and old alike as the "Candy Man," as he absolutely delighted in always having bags of good chocolates or other candy to share while receiving large smiles in return. A loving, faithful husband, father, and grandfather, Don will be truly missed.

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Preceded in death by parents Arthur and Gladys LaMere, brothers George, Barney (Harry), Louis and sisters Marion Fournier, Joyce Hawkes, Joan Oliver, Rita Stiepan. Survived by loving wife, Karen, daughter, Michelle (h. Michael), Mittelsteadt;  sons, Mark (w. Lori), and Jean-Paul. Also survived by granddaughters, Katie and Melanie Mittelsteadt, and Lauren, Sophia, and Shelby LaMere, who will forever remember their loving “Poppa.” Also survived by best buddy from childhood, Jack Shimota.

The family extends special thanks to the compassionate caregivers and staff at Hillcrest Nursing Home and Asera Care Hospice for their kindness and support. 

Mass of Christian burial is scheduled for Friday Aug. 3, at 11 a.m. at , 630 East Wayzata Boulevard in Wayzata. Visitation will be one hour before mass. Private Interment at Fort Snelling Cemetery.


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