Leslie "Les" L. Henriksen

Leslie “Les” L. Henriksen, 86, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2018. Les was an Electrical Engineer for ITT from 1967 to 1995 when he retired. He graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1958 and proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. Les grew up in Beechwood, MI, a place he always called “home.” He was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN. He enjoyed traveling, time with his children and grandchildren (in whom he took much pride), reading, woodworking, fishing, and the outdoors. He had lifelong friends from his ITT golf league, and he felt great joy when playing his trumpet and cornet with the ITT dance band for many years. He is survived by his loving daughters, Karen (Paul) Marshall of Lodi, WI; Laura (Michael) Bowman of Fortville, IN; Bonnie (Frank) Gailloreto of Whitewater, WI; seven grandchildren, Allison (James) Detert, Ben (Martha) Heller, David (Cagla Muslu) Marshall, Luke (Anne) Heller, Lesleigh (Isaac) Denniston, Jordan Heller, and Andrew Bowman; and three sisters, Carolyn Dunlap, Dorothy Javoroski, and Ruth Lopez all of Iron River, MI. Les is preceded in death by his parents, Louis C. and Mildred M. (Johnson) Henriksen, wife Carolyn L. (Kahler) Henriksen, and a grandson, Gabriel Heller. Services will be held Saturday, September 15, 2018, at 12 noon at Messiah Lutheran Church, 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne, IN, with visitation at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Highland Park Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be directed to Messiah Lutheran Church, Parkview Home Health & Hospice, or Beechwood Historical Society. D.O. McComb & Sons-Pine Valley is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.