Gerard J. "Blackie" LePage, Sr., 90, of South Range, Wis. died Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 at Middle River Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Gerard was born on the banks of the Nemadji River in Superior, Wis. on Feb. 6, 1919, the son of Ellen (Genereau) and Henry LePage. He spent his first few years living on Wisconsin Point and then his family moved to Allouez.

On Sept. 14, 1940 he was united in marriage to Beatrice Okerman.

He served from July 20, 1944 until Sept. 28, 1945 in the U. S. Army and was a recipient of a Purple Heart.

Gerard had a lifelong passion for baseball, whether it was going to a game, watching a game on television or coaching the youth teams in South Range. He was an avid Brewers fan and Packers fan.

He was a charter member of the Parkland Volunteer Fire Department where he served as chief for 35 years, was a past president and member for 59 years of the Carpenters Union Local #755, he served as Captain of the Douglas County Auxiliary Police, was a South Range Little League Baseball Coach and was a South Range Boy Scout Troop Leader.

Gerard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Beatrice on May 24, 2001; three sisters, Gladys, Mae, and Esther; and five brothers, Wally, Marvin, Edward, Lester, and Roger.

He is survived by his three sons, Gerard "Gerry" LePage, Jr. of South Range, Douglas (Mary Ann) LePage of League City, Tex., and Roger (Suzanne) LePage of Superior, Wis.; grandchildren, Steve (Sherry) LePage of Hawthorne, Christopher (Pamela) LePage of Foothill Ranch, Calif., Jayson (Danise) LePage of Pearland Tex., and Audra LePage of Superior; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Justin, Kaitlyn, Renee, Arianna and Annika; a step-great-grandchild, Matthew; a great-great-granddaughter, McKenna; and a sister, Lorraine Okerman of Superior.

Visitation will be on Thurs., Nov. 5, from 5-7 p.m. and continues on Fri., Nov. 6 from 11 until the noon funeral service at Downs Funeral Home, corner of 19th St. and Ogden Ave. Rev. H. Duane Aslyn will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Steve, Christopher, Jayson and Audra LePage, Jack Johnsted, Ron Huppert, and John Erickson. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Thomas F. Stein V. F. W. Post No. 1091 and the Richard I. Bong American Legion Post No. 435 Honor Guard.