Leonard J. Kokk

1959 - 2021

Leonard Jyri Kokk, 62, a resident of Harrison, Arkansas, formerly of Lunenburg, MA, died Sunday, September 12, 2021, at Somerset Senior Living at Mount Vista in Harrison following a brief battle with cancer.

Lennie, as he was known to most, was born August 5, 1959, in Fitchburg, MA to George and Lena Kokk (Kingston). He was preceded in death by his parents. He was a 1979 graduate of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg, MA. Lennie was employed as a warehouseman at Hewlett-Packard most of his adult life. In his younger years he was an avid golfer, and he taught his nephew, Raymond, how to play. He loved to go for long walks and strike up conversations with people he met along the way. He showed a genuine and disarming interest in people, and he was a kindhearted and loyal friend. At one point, while temporarily residing in southern California, Lennie pursued a dream of acting, winning several bit parts on TV shows and a movie. He enjoyed traveling, often accompanying his friend, Arthur Koykka, on headstone rubbing trips, studying the Finnish language, amusement parks, and collecting memorabilia. He was a lifelong fan of fantasy, enjoying the genre in both books and movies. He never lost his sense of childlike wonder. Lennie loved to spend time with his family most of all. He lived in Lunenburg all his life up until October 2020, when he moved to Harrison to join his sister in the Ozark Mountains.

Survivors include a brother, retired T.Sgt. Aarne Kokk and his wife Heather of Pinebluff, NC; sisters Tina M. Kingston of Harrison, AR, Heli Kokk of Lunenburg, MA, and Debbie LeBlanc and her husband Rob Lasher of Tucson, AZ; three nephews, retired Maj. Jesse Gariepy of West Point, UT, retired Maj. Steven LeBlanc of Clearfield, UT, and SMSgt. Raymond LeBlanc, currently stationed in UAE with the USAF; and extended family, and many good friends.

In his last days, Lennie expressed deep concern for family and friends who continue to smoke cigarettes, and he hoped they would quit so they might avoid a similar fate. Cancer may not be entirely preventable, but cancer from smoking is. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that those who smoke consider quitting in memory of our brother. A Celebration of Life will be held by family at a future date. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Holt Memorial Chapel of Harrison.