Leo Finnegan

1924 - 2021

Leo Finnegan
April 8, 1924 - August 12, 2021
Palm Desert, California - Leo G. Finnegan passed away on August 12th in Palm Desert Ca. He was born April 8,1924 in Iowa to Mary and Thomas Finnegan. He was the second of four children, John,Wilfred, and Mary Jean. He spent his youth in Iowa. A favorite memory was the time he successfully swam across the Mississippi River but failed to consider the effort of swimming back. His family moved to Tacoma and both his parents died young leaving the older three children to finish raising Wilfred, the youngest.
When World War II started Leo enlisted in the Marine Raiders. He fought and survived some of the toughest battles fought in the Pacific theater, and his regiment was the first occupying force in Tokyo.
Returning to Tacoma after WWII, Leo met and married Betty Warter, and was hired by his father in law as a carpenter. The building trade would form most of his adult life as he went on to found and run a construction company. He would proudly point out projects he'd built when driving the region. He instilled love and respect for building in his daughters and grandchildren and was enormously proud that two of his grandsons are active in the building industry.
Leo and Betty had three daughters: Suzann Hoffman(Mark), Christine Leitzinger (Greg), and Cynthia Tone (James). He cherished his six grandchildren and was lucky to meet two of his three great grandchildren.
When Leo was passionate about an interest he went all in, he skied every weekend for decades up to his seventies, he golfed up until just recently, he boated with Tacoma Yacht Club and he hiked the trails in Palm Desert until he was no longer able. His passion often ignored common sense: powder snow was any consistency ranging from fluff to drinkable, hikes did not require maps or a sense of direction therefore occasionally being extended by several miles or in one case a helicopter rescue, but he was ready to do it all over again the next day.
Dancing or as he called it, jitterbugging, was a keen interest that he enjoyed until age 90. He once famously won the trophy for best legs on a cruise ship and felt that dancing made for enviable calves.
Finally he was devoted to his Catholic religion from which he found comfort, solace and guidance, faith got him through the war and was his priority until death. Services will be family only and we wish to convey our deepest gratitude to his caregivers, Rosario, Dora and Jo as well as Able Hospice, all of whom eased his final days. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Hospice.