Leo Joseph Daigle, 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep with his loving family by his side on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Lake Charles, La.  

Leo was born on 1 March 1941 in Church Point, La. to Stanislas Tannis and Lena Daigle and moved to Sulphur as a young child.  He left Sulphur, La. to serve in the Army as a Howitzer Driver and returned home at the end of his tour.   He married his ‘sweetheart’ of 57 years, Shirley Daigle, and moved to Westlake, La. where they lived for over 57 years. 

Leo never met a stranger and would help anyone he could.  He was a welder for 39 years and loved to utilize his skills to help others whenever possible.  When asked what he wanted to charge them, he quickly responded “a dollar two 98”;  his way of saying you don’t owe me anything.  He was a devout catholic who worshipped his last 57 years as a parishioner of St John Bosco Catholic Church.   

A hard-working and trusted friend to many, he was most loved by his family including his wife, Shirley Works Daigle of Westlake; daughters, Bajuana (BJ) Daigle and Sandy Cormier of Westlake; daughter, Juanita Stell (Jim) of Baton Rouge; daughter, Melissa Judkins (Bill) of Sulphur; son, Gregory Daigle (fiancée Donna) of Jennings.  

Leo was a beloved Paw Paw to Matthew Stell, Phillip Stell, Demetrius Judkins (Xiang), Sean Dempkowski and Katelyn Dempkowski (Mitch).  He was great-grandfather to Story Stell and Benjamin Schultz who loved their Pee Paw dearly.  

The third of nine children, Leo is survived by his sisters, Jane Hoffpauir, Juanita Stromer, Theresa Landry, and Margaret Shetley, and his brother, Leonce Daigle.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanislas Tannis and Lena Fontenot Daigle; sisters, Betty Landry and Ella Mae Daigle, and his brother, Theodore Daigle.  

We’d like to express our deepest gratitude to Saint Joseph’s Hospice and the Calcasieu Community Care Center’s (D Hall) staff for providing outstanding care to our family throughout his journey home.

A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2024 at St. John Bosco Catholic Church with Father Michael Barras as Celebrant. Burial will follow at the Westlake Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Visitation will be held at Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on the evening of Thursday, May 16 at 5 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 6 p.m.