Leonard F. Sasse

Len (Sonny) was born April 14, 1941, in Chicago to Leonard and Lillian (Pyka) Sasse. Len grew up in Chicago and graduated from Wells High School in 1958.

He was drafted into the Army in 1963 and was honorably discharged in 1965 and proudly continued to serve in the Army Ready Reserves until 1969. During his time in the Army, he achieved the rank of SP4-Artillery Surveyor.

He met Gloria von Werder at Leslie Welding in Franklin Park. They were married in March 1968. Through the years the family resided in Wheeling, Hanover Park and Crystal Lake. He was employed in many different roles in manufacturing operations over the years until finally striking out on his own as a house painter/handyman until he retired. He still thought he would paint the exterior of his own house in 2025 for which his family, friends and neighbors said “No, you will not!”

He was active in his community coaching baseball from Little League, Babe Ruth and CABA and as a member of the Babe Ruth League Board of Directors. He was a participant at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in many capacities including painter, groundskeeper, snow removal, advisor, and many others.

He had numerous hobbies throughout his life. His favorite things to do included working on engines from lawn mowers to cars, doing lawn work, being his own handyman and vacationing throughout the US. He took flying lessons and was able to complete his solo flight. He had a lifetime dream of owning a sailboat which he was able to achieve and his time on Lake Michigan was a place of peace and joy for him.

He is survived by his wife Gloria, his daughter Janet Miskovic (Liam Carey); his son Glenn Sasse; granddaughters Kristina (Cameron) Tinken, Taylor Burdick and Jenna Sasse; and great-grandchildren Rigley and Collins Tinken.

He is preceded in death by his father Leonard, his mother Lillian, sisters Patricia and Marian and nephews Glenn and Douglas.

The visitation will be at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 932 McHenry Ave, Crystal Lake from 10am-12pm on Saturday, May 3rd. Funeral service will follow at 12pm. The family requests your attendance for a luncheon immediately following the service to share memories and stories of Len. We know there are many.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Len’s name to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Helping Paws in Woodstock and JourneyCare Hospice in Barrington.