Laureus Cote, of Bremerton, died April 28, 2006, at the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil. He was 88.

Mr. Cote served in the Army during World War II in North Africa and Italy, taking part in the invasion of the Anzio Beachhead in 1944 where he received a Purple Heart. He moved to Bremerton in 1952 where he worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard until 1971.

Mr. Cote was born Feb. 11, 1918, in Willow City, N.D., to Rebecca and Alfred Cote. He married Loretta Ermer of Walhalla, N.D., in 1947 and they were together until her death in 2000.

After retiring, the couple spent their winters in Apache Junction, Ariz. Mr. Cote filled his time tinkering on cars, doing handyman work, vegetable gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.

Mr. Cote is survived by his sister Fern LaGasse of Minneapolis; sons Leo (Jeanette) Cote and Larry (Francie) Cote; daughter Lynn (Tim) Heiser; and grandchildren Jennifer (John ) Pebbles, Christopher Cote, and Heather, April, Amber and Haley Heiser. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and brothers Urbain and Cecil.

A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. A military graveside service is planned for 1 p.m. Monday, May 8, at the Tahoma National Veterans Cemetery in Kent.

Memorial donations are asked for the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 5 in Bremerton.