George ''Pat'' Patrick Earle

Earle, George Patrick
“Pat”
Appleton

Age 76, died at home in Appleton on April 30, 2002. He was born to Irbe and Mary Frances (McKenna) Earle in Carbondale, Illinois, on March 13, 1926. On April 21, 1968, he married Eunice Van Hout in Waukegan, Illinois. Eunice survives.

As does his most enduring legacy–Frank and Pat's Pizza, first in Appleton, temporarily in Menasha, Marinette, and Oshkosh, now in Green Bay; and Cranky Pat's Pizza in Neenah.

Pat's mother wanted much for her baby, and he tried–got the B.A. degree, even did a year of law school. But WWII intervened, and Private Pat went off to…Brazil! (Hey, you'll notice that the Axis Powers never got past Rio.) He returned with an uncertain future, and, soon, a growing family.

In the mid-50's, he left behind a string of jobs, and decided to roll the dice on pizza as a career, up here in Appleton. He and Frank were truly pioneers in this endeavor. Back in 1955, pizza was so unknown that Appletonians often stopped in to Frank and Pat's after eating elsewhere to try one of those pizza ''pies'' for dessert! But our two entrepreneurs soldiered on, long and hard, and their dream paid off–If pizza isn't the most popular food in the world, it ain't third or fourth either. And Pat, with Frank, prospered, survived local competition and multi-national chain onslaughts, and, lately, slowed to enjoy the fruits of their vision and labors as a second generation took over the reins at all the restaurants.

The wild times and excesses of his younger days gave way to a maturity and balance later on–hey, if he'd kept most of that stuff up, he'd never had been able to last long enough to do what he's done the last few years–stay home with Eunice (when she wasn't booking them on a cruise or a visit to children in Arizona), watch a lot of CNN, read so voraciously that his library card was singed, and play with his grandchildren.

What with heading down to Arlington to play the ponies at times, hitting the Casino occasionally, and always handicapping the chances for success of the current Packer roster, he did retain a penchant for gambling all his life. Good thing, too, as his biggest gamble brought culinary choice for the pizza eaters of the Valley, and provided a comfortable living and, in some cases, long term gainful employment for members of his family.

Pat is survived by his wife Eunice, four sons: Michael (Mary Sue) Earle of Green Bay, Patrick Earle of Milwaukee, Robert Earle of Torrance, California, and David (Victoria) Earle of Little Chute; two daughters: Mary Elizabeth (Don) Ascher of Suring, and Carol (John) Adrian of Appleton; 16 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, a brother, Robert (Margie) Earle of Andover, Massachusetts; two sisters: Frances Bell of Schaumburg, Illinois and Sister Mary Caedmon Earle of Sinsinawa; three step-daughters: Jean (George) Baer of Kimberly, Joan Schultz of South Bend, Indiana, and Sandra (J.C.) Newcombe of Glendale, Arizona.

Pat is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Laurence Benjamin Earle, and his first wife, Betty (Stilp)Earle.

The funeral liturgy will be at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2002, at HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 600 East Kimberly Avenue, Kimberly, with Fr. Dennis Bergsbaken officiating. Friends will be received at the funeral home on Thursday, May 2, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and at the church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A vigil service will follow the visitation at the funeral home. Burial will be at Holy Name Cemetery following the liturgy at church.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 East Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, WI 54136
(920) 788-6202