Leonard Michael
Leonard Lee Michael died March 9, 2021, at Regent Park nursing home in Holyoke at the age of 89. He was the youngest of three sons born to George and Maude (Bjorklun) Michael in Haxtun on Dec. 3, 1931.
After the death of George in 1941 when Leonard was 9, Maude married True Shannep in 1946, who became a loyal friend and counselor to Leonard.
Leonard attended school through the eighth grade at Fairfield country school and graduated from Haxtun High School in 1949. Following graduation, he served his country for four years in the Air Force. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Donna, in Presque Isle, Maine.
Leonard married Donna Lindsay on March 28, 1956, in Danforth, Maine. To this union, two children were born: Bradley James and Vicki Lynn. Leonard and Donna made their home on a farm northeast of Haxtun until health issues made it necessary to move to Regent Park nursing home in January 2018.
He was a self-employed farmer for the majority of his life, with his wife by his side. He served as a board member for Fairfield Covenant Church, Haxtun Co-op and Haxtun School Board and was a member of the Gideons.
Leonard lived by a strong faith and was active in the Fairfield Covenant Church and Berean Bible Church in Haxtun. His greatest joys were his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, big Sunday dinners/get-togethers with family and friends, and homemade pizza every Saturday night.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, George and Maude Michael; stepfather, True Shannep; brothers, Oscar and Norma Michael and Glen and Eva Michael; stepbrother, Gene and Jodell Shannep; stepsister, Inez and Henry Dee; and nephew, George Michael.
Leonard is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Donna; son, Bradley and wife Deb of Haxtun; daughter, Vicki Benson and husband Rex of Sterling; grandchildren, Andrea Schlachter and husband Hazen of Holyoke, Aaron Michael and wife Elizabeth of Haxtun, and Alan Michael and wife Kimberlee of Haxtun; great-grandchildren, Nicole, Ryan and Meredith Schlachter and Colton Michael; and many other relatives and friends.
Services were scheduled for Wednesday, March 17, at 10 a.m. at Berean Bible Church in Haxtun, with burial at the Fairfield Cemetery. The service was to be livestreamed on Baucke Funeral Home and Monument’s Facebook page.
Baucke Funeral Home of Holyoke was in charge of the arrangements.