Leon H. Lape

Leon H. Lape, 85, of Benton Harbor, went to his heavenly home on Friday, March 1, 2002 at Lakeland Hospital-St. Joseph. A service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday from 2-5 PM at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the First Congregational United Church of Christ of which he was a member. Mr. Lape was born on July 10, 1916 in Hillsdale, Michigan to Harley & Harriet (Davis) Lape. On June 18, 1938 he married the former Eileen Bradish in Hillsdale. Leon was employed as a regional manager for John Deere Plow Co for many years before he founded Lape Steel in Benton Harbor, which he owned and operated with his wife for 47 years before they retired in 1997. He was a graduate of Hillsdale College and member of the St. Joseph Rotary Club where he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Mr. Lape formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army. Mr. Lape is survived by his wife Eileen; two daughters-Marcia Lee (Jack) Sizer of Richland, MI, Linda Sue (Tom) Keeler of Waterford, MI; two sons-Douglas Harley (Betty) Lape of Traverse City, MI, Steven Harrison (Carole) Lape of Francistown, NH; nine grandchildren-Paul, Nancy, Karen, David, Michelle, Sherry, Anne, Mary, & Matthew; three great-grandchildren-Megan, Katherine & Graham. His parents and an infant sister Iola Lape preceded him in death.