Leo Richard Sheets

Leo was born on 20 April 1938 in Midland, Michigan to Leo Sheets and Harriet (nee Renshaw) Sheets. He graduated from Midland High School in 1955. After graduation from high school, Leo completed a program through University of Michigan and became a licensed Professional Surveyor. For six years, he worked as a surveyor for the State of Michigan Highway Department. During that time, he married Janice Schocknesse. He and Janice were married for seventeen years and had two daughters, Michelle/Shelly and JoAnne.

In 1961, Leo enrolled at Michigan Technological University where he started college at the same time his daughter, Shelly, started kindergarten. Leo graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s of Science Degree in Business Administration. After graduation, he moved to Coleman, Michigan and resumed his career with the State of Michigan Highway Department where he worked as a Professional Engineer in road and bridge design and eventually was promoted to a director position at the Highway Commission Audit where he also served as a Professional Witness. He retired from the Highway Department with thirty years of service.

In 1989, he met Marlene Epley. They married in 1994 and built their life together with their daughter, Holly. Leo and Marlene enjoyed many wonderful adventures together including backpacking and canoeing Isle Royale several times, canoeing the entire length of the Everglades, canoeing portions of most of the rivers in Michigan, and working on a volunteer project for a month in South Africa and then spending two weeks camping their way across South Africa and Swaziland.

Leo was an intelligent man with a passion for learning. He was a truly selfless, magnanimous person. He earned a private pilot’s license with Instrument Rating and volunteered with Angel Flights. He was a Distinguished Toastmaster and participated in many speaking engagements for not-for-profit organizations. He was a licensed Michigan Residential Builder with further licensing in Maintenance and Alteration. He started a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Ingham County and devoted countless hours working on new home builds and repairs. He embarked on a two-year study of world religions and histories of religion. In his late sixties, Leo enrolled in the two-year Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technology program at Lansing Community College and, upon completion, he became a licensed HVAC contractor with a certification as a Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Technician. Over the following ten-plus years, he used his HVAC skills to help homeowners in need with repairs or installation of new systems – usually for only the costs of parts.

As Leo's last act of kindness to his community, he made the choice to donate his body to the Willed Body Program at Michigan State University.

He will be best remembered by his nieces, nephews and others for his unique sense of humor and caring nature. He was most revered by children for his unconventional breakfasts consisting of whatever ice cream he had on hand.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Shelle, grandson Justin Aultman, great-grandson Cameron Murphy, brothers Joe and Ted Sheets and sister Mary Ross.

He is survived by his wife and closest friend Marlene Epley, daughters JoAnne (Bud) Clagg and Holly (Mark) Cooke, sister Fran (Chuck) Kinney, brothers Robert (Chris) Sheets, John (Theresa) Sheets, step-son Chad (Rhonda) Whipple, grandchildren Jason, Adam, and Brandon Aultman, Misty Murphy, Ryan (Amber) Murphy, and Randi (Josh) Draves, ten great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins and special friends Ed Brown and Brian Parkinson.

A celebration of life will take place later in the spring.

Memorial contributions in Leo’s name can be made to any local homeless shelter or food bank.