Leonard Lee Mitchell, East Leroy, Leonard Lee Mitchell, age 84, died Sunday, March 29, 2015 at Bickford Senior Living. Leonard was born March 8, 1931 in East Leroy, Michigan, son of Eugene A. and Myrtie B. (Guy) Mitchell and was a lifelong resident of East Leroy. Growing up he attended the Bigelow school where his older brother Donald taught. In 1948 he graduated from Athens Agricultural School then began a 41 year career at Post Cereals in Battle Creek, retiring October 1, 1989. He served his country honorably in the United States Army in 1952-53 during the Korean War and was stationed in the 804th Station Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. On October 1, 1955 he was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Doubleday at the East Leroy Methodist Church. They celebrated 55 years of marriage together until Shirley’s death in February, 2011. They farmed and raised hogs. Leonard enjoyed Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – trout fishing, smelt dipping, snowmobiling and hunting. They also enjoyed polka and country dancing, raising black Labradors, traveling throughout the United States and Canada in their motor home, sailing on numerous cruises with friends and family, and hosting many community hog roasts. Leonard was also an avid Detroit Tiger fan! Leonard was a member of American Legion Post 298, the Athens VFW Post 5319, the Post 25-year Club, Michigan Farm Bureau, and a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever. Surviving are daughters Teri (Dan) Loew of East Leroy and Tammi (Lucky) Smith of Fulton; grandchildren Daniel (Erin) Loew, Jr. of Homer, Michael Loew of Traverse City, Kristin Loew of East Leroy, and Autumn, Alaina and Lance Smith of Fulton; great-grandchildren Daniel III, Johannah, Isaiah and Elijah Loew of Homer; brother-in-law Carl Doubleday of Kalamazoo; sister-in-law Virginia Doubleday of Athens, and several nieces and nephews. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, wife Shirley, brothers Donald, Arnold and Glen and sister Gleetta Wank. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 2 to 4:00 pm and 6 to 8:00 pm at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home. Funeral service to celebrate Leonard’s life will be held 11:00 am, Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the North Athens Baptist Church with the Rev. Marvin A Savola officiating. Interment will be at Leroy Congregational Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Athens Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 205, Athens, MI 49011. www.henryfuneralhome.org
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