In the evening of Sunday, November 29, 2020, Leonard Davis MacKinnon had dinner with his daughter, Shannon, retired to his part of the house and quietly passed away. The third child of George and Betty MacKinnon was 69 years old. For those who knew him best, we were surprised he would go that way. He had always been a testament to perseverance.

Several years ago, on two separate occasions, he was in the hospital, critically ill, and both attending physicians recommended he enter hospice care. Leonard didn't think much of that idea. Neither did his son Ian, who came back to Minnesota to be the motivator and director of Leonard's rehabilitations, resulting in Leonard walking out of the hospital and going back to work, twice.

When Leonard was 19, he had bone cancer, resulting in the amputation of his leg. As he was adjusting to that, cancer spread to his lungs. He lost one lung and a third of the second one. No one ever heard him complain about the hand he was dealt.

We knew that if the cancer came back to what was left of his lung, he wouldn't survive, but it never did. So, Leonard got back to business, carousing with his many friends, sailing on Lake Minnetonka, skiing in Colorado, chasing "chicks," raising a family and making a career in public relations at Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty.

At Burnet, he started as a part-time courier service driver and quickly moved up to Director of Marketing. In his 42 years at Burnet, everyone knew Leonard because he knew and took care of everyone. Having to leave his job at Burnet Realty made him feel worse than the cancer did.

Leonard is survived by his daughter Shannon, son-in-law Eric, son Ian, daughter-in-law Allison, granddaughter Parker, his sister Kitty, Australian sister Joan Staples, brother Jim, sister-in-law Pam and his second families at Burnet Realty and Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

We are planning a celebration of Leonard's life to be held when we are able to gather without risking anyone's health. We expect that will be in the Summer or Fall of 2021. We will notify you of the date and location. You should all make an effort to attend, as we will be having a great time, which is what Leonard would have wanted.

Memorials are preferred to Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Adaptive Ski Program or Wayzata Yacht Club.