132

 

 

 

 

Leo P. Doyle

1900-1969

 

 

A son, Leo, was born to Michael and Honora on 30 Jul 1900. The family moved to Minneapolis when Leo was 9 years old and he entered Incarnation grade school. Their address at the time was 3226 Nicollet South.

An old family "story" says that Leo was not adverse to picking a fight at school. However, if the opponent seemed too big Leo would taunt him with "You're not so tough, I'll bet my little brother, Bill, could lick you". This is reported to have earned Bill a very poor won/lost record in his early boxing career. In all fairness, this story has also been told in reverse many times since Leo, in size, was the smallest member of the family. Which version is correct is still in doubt. Maybe both are true.

Leo, though smallest in stature, may well have been the strongest, as he was beautifully muscled. His ready wit and sense of humor easily got him over life's rough spots.

After Incarnation, Leo entered an Industrial/Technical school with the idea of learning a trade. Early in his working career he had an egg route, per his sister, Helen. In the mid 1930's Leo spent some time in New Jersey, but little is known to us about that period of Leo's life.

In response to my request, cousin, Carol Doyle Ruppe wrote me her memories of Leo. Rather than edit her comments and run the danger of changing the message, I am going to take the liberty of quoting Carol exactly as written. In Feb 1977, she wrote as follows:

In his teens he delivered packages for Young & Quinlan using the streetcars to get around. One day he was sitting in the "peanut row" on the streetcar chewing tobacco when one of his teachers got on and sat next to him. Now he had a terrible urge to spit and as it was summer. He supposed the window was open so he turned his head quickly and spit toward the window but it was closed!! He got off immediately.

He once had a job taking electric cars someplace on Hennepin and Harmon to have the batteries recharged. When I first remember him he was a chauffeur for some people at Lake Minnetonka. He would sometimes drive their big car to our house. Then I think he was a milkman for Ohleen Dairy. (Ed. note: This may have been Northland Milk Co.)

John had his plumbing shop at Lake Street and 1st Avenue and on the corner was the Lake Street Floral. Leo got a job there selling and delivering. Across the street was a hamburger shop run by Phil De Mars. Leo and Phil decided to open a flower shop so the Blossom Shop came into existence. I started helping him and then he left and got a job at Foley Mfg. where he stayed until he retired. (Ed. note: Leo worked 25 years at Foley Mfg. Co.)

Before he married Aili, he and Stasia lived in Nonie and Martin's "little house". Leo slept on the porch way into the winter. He would heat bricks and put them in the bed

"The Blossom Shop" mentioned by Carol was on Nicollet Avenue at about 17th if I recall correctly. Carol left later for a permanent job and her parents, Neal and Mayme, took over the operations of the shop until an interested buyer could be found.

In the early 1940's Leo met Aili Karppinen. They were married on 14 Jun 1943. Aili was born 12 Aug 1909 in Minneapolis and is the daughter of Andrew Karppinen and Maria Sirvio. Both of Aili's parents were born in Finland, but met and married in Minneapolis.

To Leo and Aili were born twins, Michael Leo and Mary Patricia on 11 May 1944. [the archtypal Irish Pat and Mike in keeping, more or less with Leo's sense of humor.]  Then on 25 Jul 1945, daughter Diane Katherine arrived.

Aili's capsulized comments on Leo include, "He liked to fish, he liked going on vacations with his family and he was a good story teller."  Not a bad epitaph to be remembered by.

Leo died on 19 Oct 1969 and is buried in Crystal Lake Cemetery. Aili still resides in the family home at 2102-2nd Avenue North, Minneapolis, 55405. See the family record sheet for details on the children of this marriage.

 

  .

  In response to my request, cousin, Carol Doyle Ruppe wrote me her memories of Leo. Rather than edit her comments and run the danger of changing the message, I am going to take the liberty of quoting Carol exactly as written. In Feb 1977, she wrote as follows:

"The Blossom Shop" mentioned by Carol was on Nicollet Avenue at about 17th if I recall correctly. Carol left later for a permanent job and her parents, Neal and Mayme, took over the operations of the shop until an interested buyer could be found.

In the early 1940's Leo met Aili Karppinen. They were married on 14 Jun 1943. Aili was born 12 Aug 1909 in Minneapolis and is the daughter of Andrew Karppinen and Maria Sirvio. Both of Aili's parents were born in Finland, but met and married in Minneapolis

To Leo and Aili were born twins, Michael Leo and Mary Patricia on 11 May 1944. Then on 25 Jul 1945, daughter Diane Katherine arrived.

Aili's capsulized comments on Leo include, "He liked to fish, he liked going on vacations with his family and he was a good story teller'. Not a bad epitaph to be remembered by.

Leo died on 19 Oct 1969 and is buried in Crystal Lake Cemetery. Aili still resides in the family home at 2102-2nd Avenue North, Minneapolis, 55405. See the family record sheet for details on the children of this marriage.