Leo Elias Simon

Simon, Leo Elias died Tuesday, August 02, 2016. Leo was born on April 29, 1919 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Syrian Catholic immigrants Kiamil and Najla (Nouhan) Simon. The family started a bleach manufacturing business and Leo worked with his father making and delivering bleach orders. He graduated from St. Catherine High School in 1937. Leo served in the United States Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater. After he was honorably discharged from the army, Leo went back to Detroit to be near his family, fell in love, and married Josephine Ammar on June 24, 1945 at Our Lady of Redemption Melkite Catholic Church. Leo went on to take an 18 month course in Feed Mill Operation at Michigan State College in Lansing. Soon after that Leo worked for Knappen Milling Company. He and Josephine moved to a 33 acre farm and began planting a thousand fruit trees. In 1964, Leo moved his family to Ann Arbor to work with his brothers at Big George’s Home Appliance Mart. On April 16, 1985 Josephine preceded him in death. Later, Leo married Elaine (Beskangy) Simon on December 27, 1986 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Elaine passed away on March 4, 2005. Leo had a dream to become a farmer to nurture and raise and grow food. Instead he nurtured and raised and grew a large family to carry on his legacy. Leo was also preceded in death by his parents, Kiamil and Najla; sisters, Rose Simon and Mary Simon; brothers, Joseph K. Simon and George K. Simon; and his son-in-law, Peter Tarchinski, Jr. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his sister, Thelma Beskangy; children, Joann Riley, Kristine (Frank) Jaskula, Linda (John) Tenza, James (Marlene) Simon, Therese Anne Simon, John Simon, Peter (Elaine) Simon, Anne (Mark) Paluszny and Carol Tarchinski; grandchildren, Karen (Billie), Laura (Joseph), David (Maggie), Amber, Michael (Kyra), Jeffrey, Eric, Alicia, Joseph, Brianne, Julianne, Rachel, Antoni, Matthew, Alexander, Sarah, Olivia and Micaela; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Austin, Joseph, Matthew, Michael, Emma, Luke, Brady, Collin, Kaia, Kameron, Kevi, and a host of other family members and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, August 5, 2016 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church of Ann Arbor. The family will receive friends at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel on Thursday, August 4 from 2-8 p.m. and again at the church from 9 a.m. until the hour of mass. A rosary will be prayed Thursday evening at 7 p.m. He will be laid to rest at St. Thomas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be offered to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist (4597 Warren Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105). www.muehligannarbor.com