Frank E Lagrant

Frank E. Lagrant, 87, died on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 in Ware. Frank is survived by his wife of 64 years, Bernadette (Provencal) Lagrant; his five children; Michele Jones and her husband, Dennis, of Walpole; Karl Lagrant and his wife, Debra, of Ware; Patrice Lagrant and her husband, Jim Rivernider Jr., of Ware; Scott Lagrant and his wife, Marlo, of Ware; and Jim Lagrant and his wife, Trish, of Ware. He also leaves behind four granddaughters, three grandsons, and one great-granddaughter.
Frank was born in Ware, the fifth of six children. During the Great Depression, Frank raised chickens as a means of income. After being drafted into the Army at the age of 18, Frank attended Cooks and Bakers' school. He served for two years during World War II in the Third Brigade, 10th Constabulary Regiment, in Stuttgart, Germany. After returning from the war, Frank worked as a cabinet maker, carpenter, union steward, and clerk of the works. Frank worked on projects as varied as the Disneyland House of Tomorrow, the UMass Amherst library, and the dormitories at Hampshire College. He worked on SAC installations at Westover Air Force Base and the Notch Remote Command Center. He also designed and built his own home.
Frank believed in conquering his fears head-on. Although he couldn't swim, he enjoyed water skiing on Hardwick Pond, even giving it another try in his late 70s. An irrational fear of bees led Frank to purchase two bee hives in 1970. This initial investment led to Frank managing more than 200 colonies of honeybees and starting his family business, Lagrant's Honeybees, which will celebrate its 45th anniversary this year. In addition to selling honey and beekeeping equipment and supplies, and providing pollination to local orchards, Lagrant's Honeybees sponsored informational workshops that helped beginning beekeepers get started all across New England. Frank was a member of the Franklin County Beekeeping Association, and served as president of the beekeeping associations in Worcester, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. He was also a member of the Eastern Apicultural Society, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA.)
Frank's hobbies were as numerous and successful as his occupations. He was an organic gardener, fruit tree propagator, wood worker and home brewer. He enjoyed riding his Indian motor cycle and was an avid Jeep enthusiast, often seen around Ware in the winter with his unique plow setup.
Friends and family are invited to attend calling hours at Charbonneau Funeral Home on Friday, January 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 31. Burial will immediately follow at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Pleasant Street, Ware.