LEONARD HERMAN WACHSMUTH

1924 - 2018

Leonard Herman Wachsmuth, devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at the age of 93 in Niceville, FL. Mr. Wachsmuth passed of a broken heart (heart attack) just 29 days after his beloved wife, Marilyn, passed. During their amazing 71-year marriage, they lived independently in their own home until July 2, 2018. Leonard was born on December 14, 1924 in Merrill, WI, to Carl and Helen (Emmerich) Wachsmuth, owners of a small cheese factory and later a grocery store. He graduated from Merrill High School where he developed a lifelong interest in woodworking and all things mechanical. He joined the US Navy in April 1943 where he served as a machinist's mate in refrigeration and a plank member aboard the USS Stockdale DDG-106 destroyer escort where he made sixteen crossings of the Atlantic. He was also a plank member on the USS Columbus CA-74, a heavy cruiser, and the USS Vixen PG-53, a gun boat where he served under Admiral Ingram, the Commander and Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. In 1946 on his first day home from the war while still in military uniform, he met Marilyn Sommer at his parents' store in Atwood, Wisconsin. She was there to buy a loaf of bread and found the love of her life. Shortly after, he asked her to marry him while in the choir loft of Green Grove Church. She said yes! They married on September 20, 1947. Their first years of married life were spent in Wausau, WI where he worked in refrigeration and personally built their first home. In 1963, they moved first to Peoria, IL then to Arlington Heights, IL in 1964. There he pursued a career as a regional service representative for Frigidaire. In 1995, he began enjoying his retirement years with his bride. Len was a dedicated servant of Christ and devout Lutheran. He beautified every church he attended with handmade woodworking and altarpieces. Len could make anything with his hands, loved to play cards and dominos, and enjoyed regular hunting trips to the family cabin in Wisconsin. He continued to bring Marilyn flowers often into his 90's. His greatest joy in their last few months together was to hold her hand. He treasured his wife and family and advised new husbands "to always keep God as the center of your home" and "that your wife can't yell at you if you're kissing her." He is preceded in death by his parents and also his siblings Victor Wachsmuth, Mildred Weiter, Doris Hobler and Wallace Wachsmuth. He is survived by his three children: Beth (John) Benham III of Cincinnati, OH; Robert (Virginia) Wachsmuth of Hanover Park; and Jay (Melissa) Wachsmuth of Niceville, FL; grandchildren Jennifer Benham Vito of Hoffman Estates, IL; John Benham IV of Cincinnati, OH; Amanda Wachsmuth Heavens of London, United Kingdom; Josh Benham of Cincinnati, OH; and Richard Wachsmuth of Schaumburg, IL; great-grandchildren Alex Vito, Andy Vito, John Benham V, Molly Benham, Jaxson Benham, Aria Marilyn Heavens and Aragorn Heavens. He is also survived by his siblings Gerald "Wax" (Barbara) Wachsmuth of Owen, WI, and Karen (Roger) Schiller of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. A joint Memorial Service for both Leonard and Marilyn will be held at Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, 607 W. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030 on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at 11:00 AM with luncheon to follow at the church. Burial will follow at a later time at Green Grove Church where Len and Marilyn began their life together. Memorials may be directed to Lord of Glory Lutheran Church or Green Grove Church Cemetery Fund.