1952 – 2014

BOSTON — John Arthur Labonte, 62, of Leeds passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from endocarditis.

He was born in Lewiston on Sept. 22, 1952. He was the oldest of seven children born to Henri and Jeannette (Patenaude) Labonte.

John graduated from Lewiston High School in 1970 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War from 1971 to 1972.

On Oct. 14, 1972, John married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Suzanne Chinque. Together they were blessed with two children and five grandchildren. Family meant everything to John, and he was always there whenever anyone needed him.

John was a professional truck driver for International Paper in Auburn, where he was recently honored for 40 years of dedicated service and three million accident-free miles. He was a member of the Maine Professional Driver’s Association and won several State and National Truck Driving Championships over the years.

John and Sue loved riding their Harley together as much as the weather would allow. Their adventures took them to Daytona Beach, Fla., Niagara Falls, N.Y., Canada, Laconia, N.H., and many local favorites. John loved to snowmobile and was especially proud to have completed a trip from Maine to Michigan and back. He enjoyed watching NASCAR races and the trips with his racing buddies to several tracks along the East Coast. He loved to take family trips and being the biggest fan at his grandchildren’s many sporting events.

John is survived by his loving wife, Sue; his son, Rick and his wife, Emmy, of Leeds, along with their children, Libby, Jaylin and Koby; his daughter Michelle Labonte Richardson and her children, Hunter and Spencer Richardson of Monmouth and Michelle’s partner, Pete Pelletier and his daughters, Kirsten and Kailey Pelletier; his sisters, Muriel Hanlin and her husband, Rick, Theresa Labonte and her partner, Tim Burns, and Faye Lashua; his brothers, Mick Labonte and his partner, Jeannine St. Hilaire, Jim Labonte and his wife, Diane, and Gary Labonte; and his lifetime friends Don and Gail Beaule; John had a very large extended family and close friends that he loved and cherished.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henri and Jeannette (Patenaude) Labonte.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.