Joseph "Joe" F. Leonard

Joseph (Joe) F. Leonard, our loving father, husband, grandfather, brother and friend to many passed peacefully away on Saturday December 14, 2013 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, WA. Joe was born on December 24, 1924 in Bellingham, WA to Francis and Jean Leonard. He attended Assumption High School in Bellingham, WA and graduated in 1943. Two weeks after turning 18 Joe was drafted into the Army, serving in the South Pacific.

When Joe returned from World War 2, he entered electrical trade school in Spokane. After graduation he earned his Radio License and was hired by Pacific Northwest Bell and worked in Ephrata and Wenatchee. A few years later, he relocates to Yakima where he worked for AT&T. He retired in 1988 after 42 years in the telecommunications industry.

Joe married Mary Ann (Molly) Henderson on July 24, 1954. Together they raised four sons, who all followed their parents’ desire and graduated from a four year university.

Joe was a tinkerer and a man of service. He was known as the “fix-it” guy, whether it was the family car, household appliances, or rosaries at the Catholic Church. When his sons were in Boy Scouts he was active right along with them. For many years he volunteered at the Food Bank, delivering food with a smile. Every family dog loved Joe.

Joe moved to Wenatchee in 2010. He was a resident at RiverWest Retirement Community where he truly felt part of the RiverWest family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Molly, and his twin siblings, Thomas Leonard and Catherine Bliven. Joe is survived by his four sons, David (Susan), Thomas (Joanne), James (Kristi), and Douglas (Sherry) and eleven grandchildren; Joseph, Alisha, Andrew, Kaitlin, Christopher, Graycen, Kendall, Macklin, Beckett, Phillip and Evan.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Paul Cathedral Catholic Church in Yakima on December 27, 2013 at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow.