Leonard J. Clemons (1933-2018) passed away with family by his side on March 18th at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. He was 85 years old. Len was born in southern Minnesota on a farm near Elysian, Minnesota to the late Martin Clemons and Mary Wesley Clemons. He attended school at Sacred Heart in Waseca. After graduating high school he began to work for Chicago Northwestern Railroad. Len then served in the military where he was stationed in Austria and Germany during the Korean War. Upon his return from the service, he continued to work for C&NW while earning a degree in Economics from Winona State College in Minnesota. As a traveling auditor he was responsible for many territories in the northern part of the country including the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is where he met his wife Angeline Malnor. They married in 1962 and moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin where they began their family. The “twins”, Brenda and Brian were born and several years later Bridgit was born. Len accepted a promotion with C&NW in 1968, and moved his family to the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Shortly after their move, Brenette was born. He cherished his family and enjoyed raising them in the Chicago area. Len was an avid Minnesota sports fan and never waivered his loyalty to them even though he lived in Chicago for most his life. When his kids were young, he enjoyed road tripping across the country. Most summers were spent enjoying the outdoors at his ranch outside Escanaba, Michigan in the U.P. and visiting family in Waseca, Minnesota. He retired from C&NW in 1989 as the Director and Operator of Joint Facilities. He continued to live in the home he raised his children in Des Plaines for 50 years until his death. His parents, Martin Clemons and Mary Wesley Clemons preceded him in death as did his three brothers (Milton, Joe, and Lawrence) and two sisters (Rita Korteum and Loretta Hoffman). His wife, Angie died in 1997 after a long illness. His life will be cherished by many including his special friend, Kay Lyford, two cousins who were adopted into his family (Jim and Jerry Myers), and his children and grandchildren: Brian and Sherry Clemons (grandson: Brian Clemons); Brenda and Harry Miller (Savannah and Sage); Bridgit and Jim Gilmore (Angie, Amanda and Andrew) and Brenette and Gary Newland (Eva, Chloe, Samuel and William) along with countless cousins, nieces, nephews and in laws. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 23 from 3-8pm, at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street, DesPlaines, IL. Funeral will be held on Saturday, March 24th at noon at St. Zachary Church, 567 W. Algonquin Road, DesPlaines, IL. Burial to follow at Maryhill Catholic Cemetery in Niles, IL.
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