Leo Amos Schlesselman

Leo was born July 28,1929 to Elmer and Emelia (Brauer) Schlesselman in Cole Camp, MO. He was baptized on August 26th,1929 at Imannuel Lutheran Church, Brauersville, MO. Leo was confirmed July 26th,1942 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, MO; Psalm 37:5 being his confirmation verse. After graduating from Cole Camp High School, Leo moved to Alma, MO to work in the Alma Creamery. There he also played trumpet in the town band where he met Shirley Ann Tieman, who played the Saxophone. Leo was drafted into the Army in 1952. On July 22, 1951, he and Shirley were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alma, MO. While in the Army he taught guided missiles and participated in various research and development. Upon his discharge, they moved to Kansas City and Leo earned his degree in Electronic Engineering from Central Technical Institute and the University of Missouri, Kansas. Leo spent much of his career working for the Kansas City Division of Bendix Aerospace-Electronics Company. Leo would often joke he made bicycles or washing machines, no one was ever sure which had much to do with Aero-Space. When Leo retired from Bendix, then Alied Signal in 1990, he had spent time working on projects in Oakridge TN, Kirkland Airforce Base NM, White Sands Missile Range NM, and Space Coast FL to name a few. Leo and Shirley were charter members at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Grandview, MO where they were active members for many years. After Shirley passed in 2008, Leo married Alma Jean Kessler Schumaker on February 14, 2009. They resided in Overland Park, Kansas and were active at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission KS. Leo enjoyed gardening, woodworking and traveling, and was always found with a smile on his face. Leo is survived by his wife, Jean, son Steve (Amy) Schlesselman and daughter Shelley (Tim) Brown; two granddaughters, Rachel (Ken) Rayfield and Loren Schlesselman; four great grandsons, Tanner, Reed, Nason, Tristin, and one bonus great granddaughter, Malaya; and step-daughters Beth (Rob) King, and Amy (Tom) Shelton; two step-grandsons, Parker (Caroline) and Conner New; and one great grandchild, Josephine; a sister, Marveline, brother-in-law Ervin Heimsoth, and sister-in-law Arlene Schlesselman; also our beloved Magdalene Grupe and her family in Germany. Many nieces and nephews will also remember Leo.