Leroy H. Laabs, age 70, of 4007 Center Road, Manitowoc, died Saturday afternoon, March 7, 1998, at Holy Family Memorial Medical Center. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 1998, at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Newtonburg. Rev. Victor Headrick will officiate, with burial to follow in Knollwood Memorial Gardens, town of Kossuth. He was born February 11, 1928, in the town of Kossuth, Manitowoc County, son of the late Gustav and Erna Gauger Laabs. He grew up in the town of Kossuth, attending Immanuel Ev. Lutheran School, Manitowoc, and graduated from Lincoln High School, Class of 1946. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. Leroy served overseas in the Korean conflict. He was married to Doris M. Behnke on August 14, 1954, at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, town of Liberty. He worked for the R. & J. Fricke Company as a truck driver for 41 years, retiring in 1994. After retiring, he worked part-time for Schuette Manufacturing and Steel Sales of Manitowoc. He was a very active member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Newtonburg, where he served as an Elder of the church, a past member of the Church Council, and 30-year member of the church choir. Leroy was very proud of his grandchildren and his great-grandson. Survivors include his wife, Doris; one son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Julia Laabs, Manitowoc; three daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Ralph Kracht, Manitowoc, Tracy and Rodney Fischer, Manitowoc, and Brenda and Thomas Rettinger, Manitowoc; 15 grandchildren, Jason (Kim) Kracht, Bradley (Mellissa) Kracht, Colleen, Nathan, Lisa and Lori Kracht, Rochelle, R. J., Anthony, and Nicholas Fischer, Steven, Michael and Matthew Laabs, Rachel and Haley Rettinger; one great-grandson, Bradley Kracht, Jr.; one brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Audrey Laabs, Manitowoc; one sister, Emilie Luebke, Manitowoc; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Gertrude Raether; and one grandson, Ethan Fischer. Relatives and friends may call on Monday (TODAY) at Reinbold and Pfeffer Family Funeral Home, Manitowoc, from 4-8 p.m. and Tuesday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Memorials would be appreciated for St. John Ev. Lutheran Church or the Manitowoc Lutheran High School. Herald Times Reporter, March 9, 1998 P. 2