A wonderful day, spending time with amazing people!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2025 LaPointe Reunion. To all of those who couldn't make it (living or past), kind thoughts and cheers were made in your honor!
We were very lucky to have decent weather, maybe a little on the warm side. The day was spent enjoying food, drink, and sharing time with many people we haven't seen in a while. Thank you to those who brought something to share. And many thanks to those that helped clean up and take the excess food, drinks, toys, etc. at the end of the party.
Below are thoughts shared on the boards, in the sign-in book, and some fun photos from the day.
Till we meet again - take care of yourself and one another!
Shared family memories
- Visiting Grandma "Toots" at her home in Ashland and her hugs - Tara Herrera (Espinosa)
- Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa with lots of presents and videography fun. Let's play charades!
- Grandma (Wanda) falling into the koi pond at the botanical gardens.
- Grandpa Ken with his Red conurse! (cigar) Taking us to KFC in his little station wagon!
- Going up north to my grandma and grandpa at Pine Point and fishing and swimming there. And going to Ashland to Great Grandpa Kenneth's and Toot's and having root beer floats in Ashland.
- Always loved going with Grandpa to the dump, fishing and swimming in Lemonweir River at Lyndon Station - visiting cousins!
- Going up north to Grandma Toots and Grandpa Ken's House in the summer. Family week spent at the Pine Point Lodge.
- Visiting Grandma and Grandpa LaPointe at Des Plains, Lemonweir River and Ashland.
- Adam and Marshmello head :-) Aunt Sandy making us dance every time we saw her in a Racine bar. Erick's visit with Emily and Adam. ET! Aaron and the flashlight in the boat.
- Playing Password with my new Mother-in-law as my partner against Sandy and Kathy. Word was 'drawers', only clue Wanda gave me each time was 'Chester'. (She called it a Chester Drawers!) We lost it and she wasn't happy.
- Had last LaPoint reunion July 1, 2012 - Wanda LaPointe got to see the family!
Remembering those who have passed
- Aunt Sandy
- Daughter-in-law
- Jean Gardner (LaPointe) and her children
- Gail Espinosa
- David Gardner
- Joe Gardner
- Wayne Jr Gardner
- and many more...
Photos
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Family Tree -
Full Group Photo #1 -
Full Group Photo #2 -
Full Group Photo #3 -
Joe and Wanda
Family Group Photo -
Group Photo #1 -
Group Photo #2 -
Group Photo #3 -
Group Photo #4 -
Group Photo #5 -
Group Photo #6 -
Group Photo #7 -
Group Photo #8 -
Egg Toss #1 -
Egg Toss #2 -
Egg Toss #3 -
Egg Toss #4 -
Egg Toss #5 -
Egg Toss #6 -
Lovely Drawing
by Rhonda LaPointe
Music Playlist
If you enjoyed the music you heard at the reunion - LaPointe Reunion Spotify Playlist.
The History of the Last Name LaPointe
The last name LaPointe has a rich history, primarily originating in France and evolving with French immigration to North America.
Meaning and Origin
- Topographical: The name LaPointe translates to "the point" in English. It likely originated as a topographic name for someone living near a prominent geographical feature such as a sharp hill, a peninsula, or a river bend.
- Occupational/Nickname: It could also be an occupational surname for a soldier, potentially referring to the point of a lance or other weaponry, or for a maker of pointed tools.
North American History
- In North America, the surname LaPointe was often adopted as a secondary or "dit" name, meaning "also called." This was a common practice in 17th-century French Canada. For example, individuals like Nicolas Audet dit LaPointe, Étienne Godard dit LaPointe, and Pierre Tousignant dit LaPointe used it to distinguish themselves or their family lines.
- Over time, these "dit" names, including LaPointe, became independent surnames.
- The LaPointe surname is prevalent in French-speaking regions, particularly in Canada, and is also found in the United States.