After Malaysia I went to West Virginia University and dropped out after 1 year. Lived and worked in WV for a while until I joined the USAF. I did 7 years in the Air Force, 3 1/2 in Phoenix, AZ and 3 1/2 near Ogden, UT. In Utah I met my wife, Vicky (2nd from left), and we had our daughter, Veronica (far right). After I got out of the service we moved home to New Jersey where we had our son Mark (far left in the graduation gown). A few years later we moved to North Carolina with my job at GE. We both got tired of not having winter and decided to move to Vicky's home state of Minnesota, where we live now.
Over the years I have worked for several companies in mechanical and electrical/electronic equipment maintenance and factory automation. Now I own my own welding shop near Hackensack, MN.
For recreation in the summer I like motorcycling, water skiing, and I pit for a dirt track race team. In the winter I like snowmobiling and do a little ice fishing and ice racing.
Mike Laputka
