Graveside funeral services under the direction of Peters Funeral Home will be held Saturday, May 9, 10:00 a.m. at Wasco Memorial Park for Edward James Leppan, age 92 of Wasco. Edward passed away May 5th at his home in Wasco after a short illness. Pastor Scott Allred of United Methodist and Chaplin Mike Lynch of Odyssey Hospice will officiate the service and internment will follow. Ed was one of eight boys born to Stanley and Bertha Leppan on August 29, 1916 in North Bay, Canada. At the age of 13 years, Ed left home to live with his aunt and uncle in Michigan. In 1951 he met and married the love of his life, Hazel. Ed owned and operated a chain link fencing company in Royal Oak, Michigan until his retirement in 1984. They then moved to Clearwater, Florida. In 1989 they decided to move to California to help care for Hazel's sister Evelyn Priest, who was very ill. Ed enjoyed living in Wasco, where he became friends with many people. He loved going to the do-nut shop in the mornings to hang out with the guys. Ed loved to eat all his meals out, and everyone at the restaurants knew him by name, and knew what he liked to eat. Ed also loved to fish and in 1998 he caught a record trout at Lake Buena Vista. Ed lived a very long healthy life. He was never ill much and he contributed this to good clean living. Ed was a "gentle giant", and everyone who knew him, loved him. Ed and Hazel did not have any children of their own, but had many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He will be missed by all who knew him. The family wants to give special thanks to Odyssey Hospice for their loving care; also, to Ed's care-givers Alicia Pimentel and Lorena Bravo for all their love and support. And last but not least to Ed's special friend Yvonne Avila for her unfailing support and love. Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel of 55 years, his parents, Stanley and Bertha and 6 brothers, Francis, Stanly, Charlie, Roy, Gordon and Robert. He is survived by his brother Norm Leppan & wife Mary and many nieces and nephews in California and Canada. Ed was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wasco; donations may be made in his name to the church memorial fund and mailed to UMC, 7th & Birch, Wasco, CA 93280.