Richard M. Leppla, 66, of New Brighton died Thursday at his son's home in New Brighton.

Born Aug. 19, 1940, in Germany, he was the son of the late Herman and Marie (Memges) Leppla.

Mr. Leppla was a retired machine operator for the former Mayer China Co. of Beaver Falls.

He was a member of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church and the Marion Hill Sportsmans Club, both in New Brighton.

He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Leppla; two sons, Michael Leppla and his wife, Jennifer, and John Leppla; and one granddaughter, Kathleen Leppla, all of New Brighton; three sisters, Beverly and Ed Kairis of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Mitzi and Jim Vogler, of New Brighton and Merrily and Lenny Glover of New Brighton; two brothers-in-law, Edward Joseph Rank and his wife, Patricia, of Raynham, Mass., and James Wiliam Rank and his wife, Charlotte, of Huntington, Md., and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Patricia (Rank) Leppla, who died Aug. 17, 2005, one brother, Robert Leppla; one sister-in-law, Marie (Rank), and one brother-in-law, James J. Lintz.

<B>LEPPLA</B> — Friends of Richard M. Leppla, who died Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006, will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at <B>J&J</B> <B>Spratt Funeral Home</B>, 1612 Third Ave., New Brighton, with a blessing service to follow. The Rev. Fr. James R. Gretz will officiate.Burial will be in West Sunbury Union Cemetery in West Sunbury.For information, visit www.jjsprattfh.com.