Theodore R. Lepore

ONALASKA, Wis. - Theodore R. Lepore died on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021.

He was born on March 26, 1929, in Chicago, the son of the late Benedetto and Margherita (Russo) Lepore. He graduated from Crane Technical High School in 1946. He attended the Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago graduating with a Doctor of Optometry degree.

He served stateside during the Korean War as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He started a practice in Hurley in April 1956 and continued until October 1995, when he associated with Great Lakes Eye Specialists, until retiring in May 1998.

Ted married Jean Michela on Aug. 23, 1958, at St Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. She passed away on April 28, 2012.

Ted was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley and St. Ann's Catholic Church in Saxon, the Hurley Lion's Club (65 years), and was a charter member of the Eagle Bluff Golf Course. He was the original president of the Hurley Industrial Committee and the vice president of the Highline Corporation.

He is survived by three daughters, Anna (Chuck) Hockenbery of Onalaska, Jeanne (Jeff) Holmquist of West Salem, and Lisa (Brad) Ekman of Saxon; five grandchildren, Steven and James Christiansen, Dana Mazurie, and Jill and Adam Hockenbery; five great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lorraine Michela; many nieces and nephews; good friends, Peter, Nancy and Paul Sturgul; and golfing buddy, Al Rye.

Besides his parents, Ted was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph Lepore; a sister, Frances Tomasso; sisters-in-law, Rita Lepore and Genevieve Michela; brothers-in-law, John Tomasso and Domenic and Lawrence Michela; nephews, Joseph and Charles Michela, John Tomasso Jr. and William Serritella; niece, Sandra Cascella; and special friends who welcomed him into their families, Roman and Isabelle Sturgul, and Robert Sr. and Irene Gurske.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with Fr. Raj Sunkara officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. before the service. Interment will be at a later date. Due to COVID, masks are required at the visitation and the funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Hurley Lions Club and the American Cancer Society

The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Ted's legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.