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Raymond L. Leeper, age 77, of Burr Oak, loving husband of Dorothy Leeper, passed away Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at Sturgis Hospital.
He was born Feb. 28, 1932, in Chicago, a son to the late Charles and Edna (Smock) Leeper.
Raymond has been a resident of Burr Oak since 1994, previously living in Chesterton, Ind., for 17 years and prior to that in Portage, Ind., for 40 years.
On Nov. 22, 1972, in Burr Oak he married Dorothy King.
He was a retired member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Some of the popular construction projects he was involved in were the McCormick Place, White Sox Park, both in Chicago, and Oprah Winfrey’s home in Rolling Prairie, Ind. Raymond enjoyed his work and during his retirement enjoyed fishing, golfing, and playing cards.
Raymond was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the American Legion Post 260, the V.F.W. Post, and past member of the Moose all in Portage, Ind.
Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; son, Dennis Leeper; daughter, Debra Leeper; five step-children, Antionette Hart (Bill Basham) of Sturgis, Edward (Pam) Strudas, Myrtle (Curt) Zehner, and Michael Strudas, all of Chesterton, Ind., and Jeanne (Dennis) Root of Sturgis; step-grandchildren, Raychael (Joe) Schmidt, Ricky (Julie) Hart, Amber (Dennis) Wendling, Amy Zehner, Edward Strudas III, Mark Strudas, Emily Strudas, Michael (Tara) Strudas, Kera Strudas, Jena Root, Cass Root, and Cole Root; two step-great-grandchildren, Kaeden and Brooklynn; three brothers, Harvey (Dorothy) Leeper, Robert (Mary) Leeper, Larry (Ruth) Leeper, all of Portage, Ind.; one sister, Delores Rich of Dallas, Ore.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Gene, Glenn, and Lee Leeper.
A memorial service by his family will be held this summer by the lake he enjoyed and he will be remembered in our hearts daily. If desired the family suggest memorial donations be directed to the Sturgis Hospital Foundation, 916 Myrtle Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
