Leonard Erickson

ERICKSON, Leonard W., 91, passed away in Zephyrhills, Fla., May 3,

2011. He was born June 1,

1919, the eldest son of William and Pearl (Rueg-segger) Erickson, on the family homestead off Hohnke Road in Cleveland Township, Mich. His family name is among those of the first settlers of Leelanau County, Mich. The family rejoices that he knew Christ, and he has ascended into heaven. He was preceded in death by his brothers, John and Jerry, and sisters, Gladys and Violet. He is survived by his wife, Mary C. (Nelson) Erickson; son, Ronald L. Erickson of Zephyrhills; and his grandchildren, Deborah (Mark) Overstreet of Lakeland, Fla., Tony (Suzanne) Erickson of Simla, Colo., and Pauline (Glenn) Martin of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Marie (Robert) Lemmer of Traverse City, Mich.; sister-in-law, Beattie Erickson of Apache Junction, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews. He was the family's prologue, their inherited legacy. Mr. Erickson came from a generation in which men were truly men. He was the early family hero after saving the family homestead. A hero of the true kind, backed by a family name, character, honesty and a handshake. He came from an era in which right was might and there was little talk about the shades of gray. Mr. Erickson loved Belgian horses, and at the ripe age of seven, he could hold back nearly two tons of horses for hours on end, working in the fields. He was from the "old country" and "simpler times" as he referred to them. In his early days, he was hired to skid logs with a team of horses. He was a God-inspired man who lived during the depression years and literally rubbed small change wages to become a man with no debt. Later he owned his own cherry and beef cattle farming operation off of Donner Road. In addition, he owned a trucking company. He bought and transported livestock for locals to include involvement with area 4-H Clubs. He hauled fruit for area packing companies. He was a buyer known as "Number 10" for a beef packer in Escanaba, Mich. He pulled horses in contests, and he traded them, too. Mr. Erickson was a teamster like no other; a gentleman in competition. As the weights grew heavier with few teams remaining, it was a rare day that he went back for the third pull; even if the contest championship was on the line. The favor of the horses was always more important than the win. He served as his family's inspiration for being forthright and living life the right way. He was deep in his convictions, and he stood on principal and his unwavering belief in God, family and country. Memorial services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at Whitfield Funeral Home in Zephyrhills, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in behalf of Leonard W. Erickson go to the Michigan Horse Pulling Association Inc., 9529 Glovers Lake Road, Bear Lake, MI 49614.