Lawrence Eugene Lapish

Mr. Lawrence Eugene Lapish, 96, formerly of Statesville, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2015, at Transitions Life Care Hospice in Raleigh, NC. Mr. Lapish was born in Iredell County on May 29, 1919 and was the son of the late Kerfees Lee Lapish and Mary Sain Lapish.  He attended Iredell County schools and on June 15, 1946, he married the former Lovelia Bost Lapish, who survives. Mr. Lapish was a member of Front Street Baptist Church.  He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and was among some of the first of the soldiers to be deployed at the start of WWII.  He fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy for 33 months.  Following his return to the states, he resumed a career with Bernhardt Furniture where he worked for over 56 years, having retired as the plant superintendent.  He was a man who loved fishing and at the young age of 86, he was out deep sea fishing with friends.  He loved to travel but preferred driving as opposed to other forms of transportation.  He and his wife traveled to every state in the US except Hawaii and Michigan.  Mr. Lapish was a model husband and father.  He and his wife Lovelia celebrated 69 years of marriage in June of 2015.  He was a gentle soul and ever faithful, kind and nurturing to his ailing wife following her stroke five years ago.  He will be missed. In addition to his parents, Mr. Lapish was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. Left to cherish his memory along with his wife are three daughters, Cynthia Lapish Groce (Craig) of Morrisville, NC, Wendy Carol Lapish (John Beck) of Apex, NC, and Lisa Lapish Gauger (Bill) of Morrisville.  He is also survived by two grandsons, Chris Holland of Kernersville and Hank Gauger of Morrisville along with two granddaughters, Kelsey Gauger of Boston, MA and Laura Gauger of Reston, VA.  He is further survived by a brother, James Lapish (Ruth Carol) and Gerald Sue Miller (Dean), both of Statesville along with numerous nieces and nephews.  Funeral services for Mr. Lapish will be conducted at 11:00 am Saturday, September 19, 2015, at Front Street Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Stutts and Craig Groce officiating.  Burial with full military honors will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.  The family will visit with friends Friday evening from 6:00 until 7:30 pm at the funeral home.  Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Lawrence Lapish.