Wayland native Lawrence Lee Lapekes, 86, died Saturday, Jan. 18.
Larry was born Oct. 15, 1933, in a farm house in Wayland and was the 10th of 11 children to be born to Anna and Luka Lapekes. As a child, he would walk 1.5 miles to attend a one room school house with 50 other children, and his favorite subject was geography. When the family moved to another farm in the Wayland area he attended the public school and rode the bus. He performed so well in school the teachers only required him to attend twice a week, a blessing because he had to help on the family farm tending cows and working in the muck (onion) fields.
As a child he liked to box and play football. At age 8 he almost drowned in Bowens Mills, but the family dog “Pal,” a police dog, saved him by dragging him to shore.
Larry lived on the family farm until age 16, when he enlisted in the Air Force by “fudging” his age. His dad found out and had to set the record straight with Uncle Sam. Larry then moved in with his brother Ed in Grand Rapids and helped haul onions to Detroit. Some of his first jobs included working in a junkyard, a roller driver, laying blacktop for Coprovia, working in a grocery warehouse, driving a hi-lo and roofing with his brother Steve.
At age 18 he learned the carpentry trade, which led him to start a business with his brother Ed, and together they ran Home Siding and Construction Company for more than 60 years.
At 19 he married his sweetheart, Beverly Joan VanPutten. Together they raised three daughters, Cyndi, Christie and Brendalynn. Some of their favorite pastimes included roller skating, dancing and going to the drive in (sneaking Beverly in the trunk), and spending time with his brothers and their wives. Later in life they loved to travel, go on cruises and spend time at their cottage in Irons.
Larry’s favorite hobbies included fixing up old cars and motorcycles and hunting with his brothers. In the summer of 1960 he and two buddies founded the Para-Dice Motorcycle Club, which today is responsible for hosting the “Blessing of the Bikes” in Baldwin. During the late 1970s and early ’80s he was part of the Snowmobile Association, a passion he would enjoy with his friends and family.
After 43 marvelous years together, Larry lost his beloved wife, Beverly, on Nov. 26, 1996. In 2001 he married his second wife, Cynthia Cheyne. They enjoyed 18 years of marriage together, wintering in Florida.
Larry is survived by his wife, Cynthia, his daughters, Cyndi (Tom) Cameron, Christie (Carlos) Gutierrez, Brendalynn (Mark) Eustice, five grandchildren, Krystal, Bob, Ashley, Austin and Bella, two great-grandsons, Christian and Kaden, step-daughter Stephanie (Matt) Hooker, several step-grandchildren, one step great-grandson, nieces, nephews and close friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, 1253 52nd St. SE. Rev. Fr. Peter Vu, celebrant. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St., with a scripture service beginning at 7 p.m., and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. Mass will begin immediately following.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Hospice.
