Leroy V. Silampa

MADISON  Leroy V. Silampa, age 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 1 2010 at the Hospice Care facility in Fitchburg, WI where he had been living while battling a lengthy illness. He was the only son of Verner and Lillie (Rinta) Silampa who preceded him in death along with his sister Lenore Runkel.  Leroy was born on December 26, 1932 in Rib Lake, WI and moved to Madison at the age of one. He attended Madison Lutheran Grade School and later Madison East High School where he lettered in baseball and football. After high school he attended The University of Wisconsin - Madison, where he also lettered in baseball. While he signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates upon graduation, he instead spent the next two years serving his country as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. His duties included being a Supply Officer in San Diego, CA and a Legal Officer at the Naval Station in Astoria, Oregon.  He married June Evans on May 5, 1956 in Sheboygan, WI and the two of them moved to Oregon to allow him to complete his tour of duty.  After his honorable discharge from the military, he decided to move back to Wisconsin and obtain his masters degree in business administration rather than pursue a career in baseball. During his career in Human Resources, he worked for Cummins Engines (Columbus, IN); JI Case Company (Racine, WI); Sola Electric (Elk Grove, IL); Kimberly Clark (Appleton, WI); Aluminum Specialty (Maintowoc, WI); Stowell Industries (Milwaukee, WI); and, Pressed Steel Tank (West Allis WI). After his working career was over he joined the Bay Area Rescue Mission in California where he helped to arrange charitable fund raising events. He returned to Madison in 2000 to take care of his mother until her death in 2004. He was an avid sports fan and strong supporter of the UW Athletics Program. He was also a devout Christian and member of Bethel Lutheran Church where he sang in the choir for several years.  

Leroy is survived by his daughter Julee Marie Silampa (Greer, SC); son Terry Lee Silampa and Terry's wife Pam (South Riding VA); two grandchildren Emily Madison Silampa and Owen Cody Silampa (South Riding, VA); ex-wife and friend June (Brookfield, WI); and two nieces Roslyn Lang (Fort Collins CO) and Roxanne Runkel (Golden CO).  

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday November 26, 2010 at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 312 Wisconsin Ave in Madison, WI. There will be no visitation prior to the service. Burial Services will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove WI on Wednesday Nov. 24 at 2 PM.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church or the University of Wisconsin ""W Club"" which were his two great passions toward the end of his life.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service

Madison, Wisconsin