Francis Edward LaBrosse
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Francis Edward “Frenchy” La Brosse was drafted into the US Navy in 1944 at age 36.
He was trained at Great Lakes, IL, Richmond, VA, and Norfolk, VA. His tour of duty was on an LST in the South Pacific where he was a Motor Machinists Mate 3rd Class.
As he was trained in piano he was often asked to play when a piano was handy while in the Navy. "Frenchy" was seperated from service on December 6th, 1945.
He proudly served his country and continued to serve his state in later years as a State Representative and State Senator from the 59th Legislative District for 22 years.
He was born and raised in the West End of Duluth and as a young man he worked for the DWP Railroad and the Coolerator Company.
He was a dedicated family man with wife Myrtle and children Darlene Johnson of Duluth and Ray LaBrosse of Maryland. In the year 2000 he was honored as being one of the "100 Greatest Duluthians"
