William “Bill” J. Laise passed away on November 13, 2018 at Lima Manor.  He was born in his home in East Stroudsburg, PA on April 1, 1930 to Frank S. Laise (deceased) and Ruth S. Laise (deceased).  Bill was a member of the United Methodist Church in East Stroudsburg where he was also a member of Boy Scout Troop 81, Secretary of the Sunday school, and later a Cub master of Boy Scout Troop 81.  He was a 1947 graduate of East Stroudsburg HS, where he was a member of the first ever football team at ESHS.

Following high school graduation, Bill attended the Philadelphia Linotype Institute and subsequently held several jobs with printing companies as a Linotype operator until he was drafted into the Army in December 1951.  For the next 2 years, he served in the 1402 Combat Engineer Battalion of the 7^th Army in Germany. While serving in Germany, Bill completed radio school graduating 1^st in his class.  After discharge from the Army, he worked as a printer at Blairstown Press, Hughes Printing Company, and later at Four Maples Press.  He worked as a substitute rural mail carrier while at Four Maples Press and moved to a full-time mail carrier position from which he retired.

Bill married Betty L. Stiff on August 2, 1958.  They celebrated their 60^th Wedding Anniversary just a couple months prior to his death.  Bill was the father to 2 sons, Keith Jeffrey Laise (deceased) and Kris Gregory Laise of Findlay.

In addition to serving in the military, Bill served his country and community in many ways.  He was very involved in the American Legion on both a local and state level.  He held many leadership positions at George N. Kemp Post 346 in East Stroudsburg, including Junior Vice Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Commander, Home Association Secretary, and Home Association President.  Bill also served as the American Legion Monroe County Commander, 30^th District Adjutant and 30^th District Commander for the State of Pennsylvania.  He also served local youth for many years through American Legion sponsorship of baseball teams, through umpiring little league baseball, and coaching youth football and little league baseball. Bill was a member of Lodge 628 of the Free and accepted Masons and became a 32^nd Degree Mason.  He was a Mason for more than 50 years.  Bill was elected Commander of the Monroe County Veterans where he organized and chaired the first Veteran’s Day Parade in Monroe County.

Bill was a lifelong fan of trains, including being a model railroader.  He always had a layout to “play” with his model trains.  This included several layouts that filled his residences’ basements and several railroad club layouts, including at the time of his death, the HO Model Railroaders of Lima. Bill had an attention to detail that added realism to the train layouts.

Bill is survived by his wife Betty Laise, of Lima, his son Kris Laise, of Findlay, Kris’ wife  Lorali Myers-Laise, of Findlay, his grandson Jacob Laise of Findlay, and  his granddaughter Hannah Laise, of St. Charles, IL.

Family will receive friends 3 – 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17 at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville.  Burial of cremated remains will be at a later date in Prospect Cemetery, East Stroudsburg, PA.