Leroy C. La Pearle, 79, of 1806 Wilson Ave., Sheboygan, Wis., died July 31 at Meadowview Manor Nursing Home, Sheboygan.

Born May 29, 1925, in Karns City, he was a son of William and Lillian Bailey La Pearle.

He attended schools in Pennsylvania until enlisting in the Navy during World War II, where he served as a ship's cook on the USS Core aircraft carrier in the Pacific and Atlantic. He was a member of the Wolf-Olson VFW Post 1230 and attended many shipmate reunions.

Mr. La Pearle was a master baker licensed with the state of Wisconsin; and for 20 years, he owned and operated Hi-Lo Bakery. He was well known for his superb wedding cakes.

He always liked being near water, enjoyed fishing and owning his own boat. With his fine sense of humor, he was always able to tell a story.

Surviving are his wife, Bernice Zagar La Pearle, whom he married Oct. 21, 1944; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Nancy La Pearle of Sheboygan, Sandy and Stephen Smith of Rockford, Ill., and Toni and Benedict Rimkus of Sheboygan; and three grandchildren and a great granddaughter, Scott Rimkus of Sheboygan, Joshua (Trisha) Smith and their daughter, Sandra of San Marcos, Calif., and Jessalynn (Spencer) Walse of Gainesville, Fla.

A sister, Dolly Fleeger of Chicora; four sisters-in-law, Betty Boyle and Mary Jane McHenry, both of Sheboygan, Rosalie Fields of Tuscola, Texas, and Rose Filges of Butler; a brother-in-law. Jim O'Keefe of Sheboygan; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and Harry.

LA PEARLE - Friends of Leroy C. La Pearle, who July 31, 2004, will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at NOVAK-RAMM-ZIEGLER FUNERAL HOME, 1535 S. 12th St., Sheboygan. A VFW service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, and a memorial service will follow.Donations may be made to a memorial fund established in his name for the Wegener's Granulomatosis Association.