Leonard M. Eserhut

Much of Len's early youth was spent growing up among extended family in rural Wisconsin. He enjoyed tagging along with his paternal grandfather on his dairy farm, learning the fundamentals of dairy farming and construction, and how to exercise thrift in all things (straightening used nails was one of his regular chores). Later his parents moved to Illinois and operated a rural roadside gas station/cafe for several years. The depression claimed the business, however, and the family moved to Chicago for better employment opportunities for Albert, a machinist by trade.

Len's mother died of cancer when he was a teenager, a major blow in his life. He moved around, living with his father for a time, his brother, and back to his grandparents' farm. An excellent draftsman in school with a keen mechanical sense, he later found work as a draftsman in Chicago. He earned progressively more skilled employment in drafting and design, ending up working in engineering at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, then moving with his first wife, Lorraine, to the lab’s facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After a few years they moved to Washington State where daughters Ann and Jennifer were born.

In 1976 Len married Chris Lanz, his partner of more than 35 years. They shared many adventures and joys over those years.

Employment at Simpson Timber Company, Tacoma City Light and as a general contractor were followed by a move to Coupeville on Whidbey Island to work for the Island County Building Department in 1986. He retired as the County Building Official in 1996, and then worked part time as Coupeville’s Building Official until February 2011, leaving that post due to ill health.

While living in Tacoma, Len taught adult evening classes in math, drafting and residential design. Len enjoyed reading, residential design, anything to do with construction, and boats. While he had a life-long dream of designing and building a boat one day, it never materialized.

Len is survived by his older brother, Charles, daughters Ann Tjhung and Jennifer Pack, and grandchildren Nicholas, Jasmine, Nora and Olivia, all Washington State residents, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Chris, grandparents, parents, son Michael, and grandson Andrew.

Arrangements under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, WA.