Obituary of Lester Dale Lavern Gade

Les was born on July 4, 1931 in Waseca, Minnesota to Leonard and Clara Gade and passed away at the age of 80, on December 19, 2011 in Tacoma, Washington, surrounded by his loving family. He was the eldest brother to two sisters; Barbara and Maxine. Growing up during the Great Depression, Les joined the army at age sixteen to help his mother with finances. He contracted rheumatic fever and had two heart attacks while in basic training and became a Disabled American Veteran. Upon discharge, he went looking for his fortune in the gold fields of Fairbanks, Alaska. Instead of gold, he found his true fortune in the love of his life, Norma Jean Cass. They were married in Seattle, Washington on December 31, 1954. Upon returning to Fairbanks, his four boys Kerry, Wade, Brett and Jay were born. He worked for the FE company on the gold dredges and for the NC company where he learned to be an appliance repairman. The family moved permanently to the Tacoma area in 1965 and Les began his 50 year career as an appliance repairman. He was the owner of Gay-D Appliance of University Place, WA. Les was an avid golfer. He could really cream that golf-ball. He had three holes-in-one-in his lifetime. He also was a life long bowler winning the 56th Annual Tacoma City Association Singles Championship in 1992 and had a 300 game in tournament competition. He was truly the patriarch of a large loving family and loved family gatherings that brought everyone together. Les is preceded in death by his mother Clara, father Leonard, stepmother Blanch, and sister Barbara. He is survived by his loving wife Norma, four sons; Kerry of Port Orchard, WA, Wade (Rose) of Roy, WA, Brett (Joy) of Bonnie Lake, WA and Jay (Sandra) of Roseburg, OR; sister Maxine of Fairbanks, AK; eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous extended family and friends. Memorial Service will be held at 2PM Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Parkway Presbyterian Church, 714 138th St. E in Tacoma.