Leo Edward Gathe, resident of Long Beach for 65 years, passed away peacefully at home, September 5, 2010 at the age of 89 years. He was born September 19, 1920, in Mitchell, South Dakota to parents, Christian Edward and Myrtle Julia Mann Gathe and was husband for 53 years to, Hazel Jeanette Oyan Gathe, who preceded him in death in 1995. He had one brother, Clair Gathe, who also has passed away. Leo was a WWII veteran, and served as a 2nd. Lt. in the Air Force. He married Hazel on July 11, 1942, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He moved to Long Beach, California in 1945, where he ran Gathe’s Market and managed the Long Beach Boulevard Trailer Court with his brother until 1989. He was an active member of the Long Beach Elks Lodge 888, since 1954, and was Exalted Ruler in 1978. Leo is survived by sons, Leo Edward Gathe, Jr. and his wife, Cindy and Curtis Eugene Gathe and his wife, Paula; four grandchildren, Michelle Gathe Butcher, Shannon Gathe, Christian Gathe and Victoria Gathe Rosado; seven great-grandchildren, Amanda, Ryan, Devin, Bryce, Jacob, Rachael and Madison; and one great-great-grandchild, Kainnen. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Bellflower-Long Beach Elks Lodge No. 888 to their Purple Pig Charity for Cerebral Palsy, at 16426 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706. Funeral services will be held at the Stricklin/Snively Mortuary Chapel, 1925 Long Beach Blvd., in Long Beach at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 18, 2010, followed by graveside service and internment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Long Beach. Visitation will be at the mortuary on Friday, September 17th from 4-8:00 PM.