Leonard Kwapis' Obituary
Leonard Kwapis, age 94, longtime resident of Madison Heights, Michigan passed away peacefully on February 15, 2024 at Troy Beaumont Hospital. He was born on September 16, 1929 in Saginaw, Michigan and raised in Gaylord, Michigan.
He was the last survivor of a tight knit family, the oldest of 5 brothers and 1 sister who remained closely dedicated to each other throughout their lives.
He served in the Korean War in the early 1950s. Following that he moved to the Detroit area to find better work opportunities than northern Michigan could provide, putting himself through college at night school, and having a 36-year career at the Chrysler Corporation where he became a cost estimating engineer.
He met his wife Frances (Caroselli) in 1957. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, and his 5 children Ann Marie (Bob Maher), Jeannie, David, John (dec), and Glenn, grandchildren Robbie (Skyler) and Michael Maher, and great grandchildren Penn and Sage Maher.
He spent many happy summers at the family cottage on Lake St. Helen, Michigan with his three sailboats, and he enjoyed gardening, driving his ‘69 Dodge Coronet, and was an avid jogger.
He was a founding member of St. Vincent Ferrer parish in Madison Heights, and remained active in the Dad’s Club, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent DePaul Society, and other activities. He served on the Madison Heights Planning Commission and was active with the Red Oaks Nature Center.
He was a leader of CAPs – Citizens Against Pollution who worked for many years to get the Madison Heights incinerator closed in the late ‘80s.
Visitation will be held on Saturday February 24th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Hopcroft Funeral Home, 31145 John R. Road, (1 block N. of 13 Mile Road, west side of John R. Road), Madison Heights, Michigan followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 28353 Herbert Street, Madison Heights, Michigan. Burial will be privately held on a future date at Guardian Angel Cemetery, Rochester, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers family requests donations to St. Vincent DePaul Society and the American Heart Association.
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