Leonard was a WWII Veteran
Survived by his wife; Ruth, daughter; Barbara (Bill), son; Jerry (Carol), 4 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Leonard (Lee) James Roose was born on Oct 1, 1919 to Anthony and Betty Roose in Peoria, IA. He was the youngest of 7 children and did not learn to speak English until he was in the 1st grade. As he grew older, he helped farm his Father’s farmland along with his brothers and sisters. He graduated from the 8th grade and soon after found a love for mechanics. He was very involved in the Peoria Community Church and later sang with the church’s men’s quartet and enjoyed singing his entire life.
Lee (or Len as so many know him) met and married Minnie Bokhoven in 1941. He went to Omaha, NE for a 2 month training in airline mechanics and was then chosen to work in an airline parts factory in Buffalo, NY. During this time period, Lee was drafted into the US Army Air Corp and was stationed in Okinawa for four years, first as a medic, then as a chef. He always told the story of the times he would fry 10,000 pork chops to feed the 5,000 soldiers on the base. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946. Lee and Minnie have two surviving children, Barbara and Jerry, but lost their youngest daughter Sandra to Leukemia when she was two years old. In 1950, Lee moved his family to Denver, CO and began working at a Chevrolet dealership as an auto-mechanic and later started his own Auto Repair Garage. In the early 1980’s, Lee and Minnie lived part time in Phoenix, AZ and part time in Denver, CO. They later purchased a park model home at their RV Resort in Phoenix where true to his nature, Len worked as the mechanic, the maintenance man, the trash man and the trailer technician for visitors. Minnie continued her employment at JC Penny Co for the next 25 years. They “truly” retired in the late 1990s. All in all, Lee worked as an auto mechanic for 50 years before his eventual retirement. During his lifetime, Len enjoyed playing softball, camping, fishing, four wheeling, bowling and many years of hunting with his son Jerry. And let’s not forget, Colorado Rockies Baseball and Denver Bronco Football. While living in AZ, Lee was a member of 5 gospel quartets and he outlived every member. Lee sang for his Grandchildren’s weddings, funerals, special musical events and there was nothing more enjoyable than hearing Lee’s extreme baritones and lovely bass voice. In 1992, his beloved wife Minnie passed away very unexpectedly. The next year, Lee met and married Ruth Gehring, which was a perfect union because Ruth was, and is, an incredible musician herself. At the time of his passing, they were married for almost 23 years and shared 6 children, 14 grand children, 26 great grand children and one great, great grandson. At 97 years of age, Len outlived all of his brothers and sisters, his daughter Sandra and his Grandson Terry. Although he used a scooter for the last 12 years due to a hip that was never repaired properly, it never stopped he and Ruthie from traveling together until 2015, when his children “persuaded” him to give up his keys (much to his dismay). In 2015, Lee and Ruth moved from Phoenix to Denver, residing in the Lakeview Retirement Center. Lee thoroughly enjoyed his family, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, eventually even being blessed to see his great, great grandson Johnathan. Lee was an awesome father and in a comment he recently made, he regretted not telling his children how much he loved them. He didn’t have to speak the words because his love was constantly on display to them all. At the time of his passing, his entire family surrounded him and he made it known how happy that made him. He will be fondly remembered not only as a great Husband, Father and Grandpa, but for his incredible Christian ethics that have left a legacy with each of us. While Len will be sorely missed, we know that he will always be truly amongst us and is now with his Lord in Heaven.
Survived by his wife; Ruth, daughter; Barbara (Bill), son; Jerry (Carol), 4 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Leonard (Lee) James Roose was born on Oct 1, 1919 to Anthony and Betty Roose in Peoria, IA. He was the youngest of 7 children and did not learn to speak English until he was in the 1st grade. As he grew older, he helped farm his Father’s farmland along with his brothers and sisters. He graduated from the 8th grade and soon after found a love for mechanics. He was very involved in the Peoria Community Church and later sang with the church’s men’s quartet and enjoyed singing his entire life.
Lee (or Len as so many know him) met and married Minnie Bokhoven in 1941. He went to Omaha, NE for a 2 month training in airline mechanics and was then chosen to work in an airline parts factory in Buffalo, NY. During this time period, Lee was drafted into the US Army Air Corp and was stationed in Okinawa for four years, first as a medic, then as a chef. He always told the story of the times he would fry 10,000 pork chops to feed the 5,000 soldiers on the base. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946. Lee and Minnie have two surviving children, Barbara and Jerry, but lost their youngest daughter Sandra to Leukemia when she was two years old. In 1950, Lee moved his family to Denver, CO and began working at a Chevrolet dealership as an auto-mechanic and later started his own Auto Repair Garage. In the early 1980’s, Lee and Minnie lived part time in Phoenix, AZ and part time in Denver, CO. They later purchased a park model home at their RV Resort in Phoenix where true to his nature, Len worked as the mechanic, the maintenance man, the trash man and the trailer technician for visitors. Minnie continued her employment at JC Penny Co for the next 25 years. They “truly” retired in the late 1990s. All in all, Lee worked as an auto mechanic for 50 years before his eventual retirement. During his lifetime, Len enjoyed playing softball, camping, fishing, four wheeling, bowling and many years of hunting with his son Jerry. And let’s not forget, Colorado Rockies Baseball and Denver Bronco Football. While living in AZ, Lee was a member of 5 gospel quartets and he outlived every member. Lee sang for his Grandchildren’s weddings, funerals, special musical events and there was nothing more enjoyable than hearing Lee’s extreme baritones and lovely bass voice. In 1992, his beloved wife Minnie passed away very unexpectedly. The next year, Lee met and married Ruth Gehring, which was a perfect union because Ruth was, and is, an incredible musician herself. At the time of his passing, they were married for almost 23 years and shared 6 children, 14 grand children, 26 great grand children and one great, great grandson. At 97 years of age, Len outlived all of his brothers and sisters, his daughter Sandra and his Grandson Terry. Although he used a scooter for the last 12 years due to a hip that was never repaired properly, it never stopped he and Ruthie from traveling together until 2015, when his children “persuaded” him to give up his keys (much to his dismay). In 2015, Lee and Ruth moved from Phoenix to Denver, residing in the Lakeview Retirement Center. Lee thoroughly enjoyed his family, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, eventually even being blessed to see his great, great grandson Johnathan. Lee was an awesome father and in a comment he recently made, he regretted not telling his children how much he loved them. He didn’t have to speak the words because his love was constantly on display to them all. At the time of his passing, his entire family surrounded him and he made it known how happy that made him. He will be fondly remembered not only as a great Husband, Father and Grandpa, but for his incredible Christian ethics that have left a legacy with each of us. While Len will be sorely missed, we know that he will always be truly amongst us and is now with his Lord in Heaven.
Leonard was a WWII Veteran
Survived by his wife; Ruth, daughter; Barbara (Bill), son; Jerry (Carol), 4 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Leonard (Lee) James Roose was born on Oct 1, 1919 to Anthony and Betty Roose in Peoria, IA. He was the youngest of 7 children and did not learn to speak English until he was in the 1st grade. As he grew older, he helped farm his Father’s farmland along with his brothers and sisters. He graduated from the 8th grade and soon after found a love for mechanics. He was very involved in the Peoria Community Church and later sang with the church’s men’s quartet and enjoyed singing his entire life.
Lee (or Len as so many know him) met and married Minnie Bokhoven in 1941. He went to Omaha, NE for a 2 month training in airline mechanics and was then chosen to work in an airline parts factory in Buffalo, NY. During this time period, Lee was drafted into the US Army Air Corp and was stationed in Okinawa for four years, first as a medic, then as a chef. He always told the story of the times he would fry 10,000 pork chops to feed the 5,000 soldiers on the base. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946. Lee and Minnie have two surviving children, Barbara and Jerry, but lost their youngest daughter Sandra to Leukemia when she was two years old. In 1950, Lee moved his family to Denver, CO and began working at a Chevrolet dealership as an auto-mechanic and later started his own Auto Repair Garage. In the early 1980’s, Lee and Minnie lived part time in Phoenix, AZ and part time in Denver, CO. They later purchased a park model home at their RV Resort in Phoenix where true to his nature, Len worked as the mechanic, the maintenance man, the trash man and the trailer technician for visitors. Minnie continued her employment at JC Penny Co for the next 25 years. They “truly” retired in the late 1990s. All in all, Lee worked as an auto mechanic for 50 years before his eventual retirement. During his lifetime, Len enjoyed playing softball, camping, fishing, four wheeling, bowling and many years of hunting with his son Jerry. And let’s not forget, Colorado Rockies Baseball and Denver Bronco Football. While living in AZ, Lee was a member of 5 gospel quartets and he outlived every member. Lee sang for his Grandchildren’s weddings, funerals, special musical events and there was nothing more enjoyable than hearing Lee’s extreme baritones and lovely bass voice. In 1992, his beloved wife Minnie passed away very unexpectedly. The next year, Lee met and married Ruth Gehring, which was a perfect union because Ruth was, and is, an incredible musician herself. At the time of his passing, they were married for almost 23 years and shared 6 children, 14 grand children, 26 great grand children and one great, great grandson. At 97 years of age, Len outlived all of his brothers and sisters, his daughter Sandra and his Grandson Terry. Although he used a scooter for the last 12 years due to a hip that was never repaired properly, it never stopped he and Ruthie from traveling together until 2015, when his children “persuaded” him to give up his keys (much to his dismay). In 2015, Lee and Ruth moved from Phoenix to Denver, residing in the Lakeview Retirement Center. Lee thoroughly enjoyed his family, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, eventually even being blessed to see his great, great grandson Johnathan. Lee was an awesome father and in a comment he recently made, he regretted not telling his children how much he loved them. He didn’t have to speak the words because his love was constantly on display to them all. At the time of his passing, his entire family surrounded him and he made it known how happy that made him. He will be fondly remembered not only as a great Husband, Father and Grandpa, but for his incredible Christian ethics that have left a legacy with each of us. While Len will be sorely missed, we know that he will always be truly amongst us and is now with his Lord in Heaven.
Survived by his wife; Ruth, daughter; Barbara (Bill), son; Jerry (Carol), 4 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Leonard (Lee) James Roose was born on Oct 1, 1919 to Anthony and Betty Roose in Peoria, IA. He was the youngest of 7 children and did not learn to speak English until he was in the 1st grade. As he grew older, he helped farm his Father’s farmland along with his brothers and sisters. He graduated from the 8th grade and soon after found a love for mechanics. He was very involved in the Peoria Community Church and later sang with the church’s men’s quartet and enjoyed singing his entire life.
Lee (or Len as so many know him) met and married Minnie Bokhoven in 1941. He went to Omaha, NE for a 2 month training in airline mechanics and was then chosen to work in an airline parts factory in Buffalo, NY. During this time period, Lee was drafted into the US Army Air Corp and was stationed in Okinawa for four years, first as a medic, then as a chef. He always told the story of the times he would fry 10,000 pork chops to feed the 5,000 soldiers on the base. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946. Lee and Minnie have two surviving children, Barbara and Jerry, but lost their youngest daughter Sandra to Leukemia when she was two years old. In 1950, Lee moved his family to Denver, CO and began working at a Chevrolet dealership as an auto-mechanic and later started his own Auto Repair Garage. In the early 1980’s, Lee and Minnie lived part time in Phoenix, AZ and part time in Denver, CO. They later purchased a park model home at their RV Resort in Phoenix where true to his nature, Len worked as the mechanic, the maintenance man, the trash man and the trailer technician for visitors. Minnie continued her employment at JC Penny Co for the next 25 years. They “truly” retired in the late 1990s. All in all, Lee worked as an auto mechanic for 50 years before his eventual retirement. During his lifetime, Len enjoyed playing softball, camping, fishing, four wheeling, bowling and many years of hunting with his son Jerry. And let’s not forget, Colorado Rockies Baseball and Denver Bronco Football. While living in AZ, Lee was a member of 5 gospel quartets and he outlived every member. Lee sang for his Grandchildren’s weddings, funerals, special musical events and there was nothing more enjoyable than hearing Lee’s extreme baritones and lovely bass voice. In 1992, his beloved wife Minnie passed away very unexpectedly. The next year, Lee met and married Ruth Gehring, which was a perfect union because Ruth was, and is, an incredible musician herself. At the time of his passing, they were married for almost 23 years and shared 6 children, 14 grand children, 26 great grand children and one great, great grandson. At 97 years of age, Len outlived all of his brothers and sisters, his daughter Sandra and his Grandson Terry. Although he used a scooter for the last 12 years due to a hip that was never repaired properly, it never stopped he and Ruthie from traveling together until 2015, when his children “persuaded” him to give up his keys (much to his dismay). In 2015, Lee and Ruth moved from Phoenix to Denver, residing in the Lakeview Retirement Center. Lee thoroughly enjoyed his family, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, eventually even being blessed to see his great, great grandson Johnathan. Lee was an awesome father and in a comment he recently made, he regretted not telling his children how much he loved them. He didn’t have to speak the words because his love was constantly on display to them all. At the time of his passing, his entire family surrounded him and he made it known how happy that made him. He will be fondly remembered not only as a great Husband, Father and Grandpa, but for his incredible Christian ethics that have left a legacy with each of us. While Len will be sorely missed, we know that he will always be truly amongst us and is now with his Lord in Heaven.
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Marr May 15, 1941
Gravesite Details
w/ Minnie G- no d date
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