James Laitala

December 11, 2017

Mr. Laitala was born in Fitchburg, August 12, 1944, a son of George and Elsie (Sillanpaa) Laitala and was a lifelong Townsend resident. He attended North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend before graduating from Fitchburg Technical High School. For thirty years Jim worked as a cement truck driver for Redi Mix Concrete Company in Nashua before retiring in 2010. Prior to that he worked for several companies including the Szocik Company in Lunenburg. He leaves his wife of 30 years, Susan L. (Leonard) Laitala; two daughters, Lisa A. Laitala-Washburne and her husband, Mark of Townsend, Heidi L. Wood and her husband, Andy of Fitzwilliam, NH; two stepdaughters, Sandi L. Wiltshire and her husband, Bryan of Leominster, Sherri L. Blais and her husband, Bob of Manchester, NH; two brothers, George Laitala of Maine, his twin brother, John Laitala of Fitchburg; a sister, Joanne Laitala of Ijamsville, MD; 7 grandchildren, Blaine Washburne, Olivia Washburne, McKenzie Wood, Jacob Wood, Ryan Wiltshire, Ericka Blais and Kyle Blais. He was the brother of the late Janice Rheault and Judith M. Aaltonen both of Townsend and the grandfather of the late Chelsea Laitala Washburne who died in 1999. For 32 years Mr. Laitala served his community on the Townsend Fire Department, retiring in 1998 at the rank of Captain at Hose Company # 2. He enjoyed bowling, camping and watching NASCAR racing. He participated for many years in the Townsend Horseshoe League.