Hank Leander

Hank Leander died on October 1, 2024. He was 94 years old. He died suddenly of a stroke.

He was born in Illinois and spent his childhood there, in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and in Southern California. He attended DePauw University in Indiana and there met Louise Ford, who became his wife for 71 years. He finished his formal education with an MBA from Harvard.

When he was 30 years old Hank went to work for the Ford Meter Box Company in Wabash, Indiana as a salesman. He was employed there for the rest of his career, and served as president for 15 years before he retired. At Ford Meter Box he traveled a lot on business and also traveled with his family in the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. After he retired the urge to travel continued, and he and Louise visited more countries than their children could count. Their last overseas trip was 10 years ago, to Morocco, with camel riding on the itinerary. He was always an adventurer.

Hank was generous with his time with his family and friends. Among family members he was the revered historian and was involved and supportive. He maintained a wide circle of friends, and enjoyed regular correspondence with them as well as dinners with them and with family in Naples, Florida, Wabash, Indiana and Richmond, Massachusetts. He and Louise spent the 2 weeks before he died in Richmond at the home they built there 35 years ago, and Hank was as happy as could be.

Hank was also generous with his charitable donations. He supported classical music, the Naples domestic violence shelter, three universities, a program for endangered youth in Wabash, historical museums in western Massachusetts and many many other causes.

He was active and engaged to the end. We mourn his death, and celebrate a purposeful life.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Crayton Road, Naples, Florida 34103, at 11:00 a.m. The Celebration will be live-streamed, go to live.naplesucc.org

There will also be a service in Wabash, Indiana, in July 2025.

In keeping with Hank's generous spirit, please make a donation to a charity of your choice