Dr. William J. Lajoie

Dr. William J. LaJoie, M.D., M.S., FACP of Waukesha died peacefully on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at the age of 96. He was born in Colfax, WA on May 27, 1921 the son of Wilbrod Louis and Mary Emeline (nee MacKinnon) LaJoie. William grew up in Spokane, WA where he attended Gonzaga University. He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1947 to 1949, where he served as an Army transport surgeon, and was honorably discharged as a captain. Dr. LaJoie received his degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. He interned at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. and completed his residencies at Colorado Medical Center, the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation and Emory University. Dr. LaJoie had a private practice in Phoenix, AZ for 15 years and practiced in Milwaukee and Waukesha from 1983 until his retirement in 1991. In addition, he was an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation for nine years at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and at the Medical College of Wisconsin for six years. Also, he pioneered and was boarded in the field of electrodiagnostic medicine. He was the recipient of the Baruch Fellowship and the NFIP Fellowship. Most memorable to Dr. LaJoie was his work with severe polio patients during the epidemics of the early 1950’s and the acute respirator patients at Memorial Hospital in Phoenix. Dr. LaJoie was a member of the American Legion DJ Martin Post 8, the Woodland Owners Association and in retirement was a member of the United States Coast Guard Flotilla Auxiliary for many years. He was an avid reader and had an experimental mind of science. He loved sailing the Pacific Ocean and the Great Lakes, wandering the lush green acres of his tree farms and connecting with nature. With all things in life, he did so with a charming sense of humor.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of 48 years, B. Gabriele LaJoie and his nine children and their families, William, Linda, James, Jerry, Cynthia, Julia, Mark, Alexis and Nicholas. He is further survived by many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances and grandson Matthew William Bowes.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 6, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the 11:00 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, S38 W31602 Hwy D, Waukesha, WI 53189 (corner of Hwy 83 and Hwy D in Genesee Depot). Father Dan Volkert will preside. Private interment with full military honors will be at St. Paul’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Wisconsin Humane Society, 4500 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53295 or to The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, 633 West Main Street, Madison, WI 53703.