Leslie Kleinsasser

1934 - 2021

Leslie Kleinsasser
April 28, 1934 - November 1, 2021
Tacoma, Washington - Leslie Kleinsasser was born on April 28, 1934 in Chaseley, North Dakota into a family of 6 children. At age 9, his father [Pop] relocated the family to Washington State. To earn money, Les picked a variety of fruits and vegetables during the summer months in the Fife valley. He attended Gault Jr High and Lincoln High School. Leslie wrestled for 3 years in high school on the varsity team and was captain his junior and senior years. He was voted most outstanding wrestler in the State of Washington in 1951/1952, winning back-to-back state championships.
He met his future wife, Virginia Evans, at her family ice creamery on Puyallup Ave in Tacoma. He frequented the ice creamery and enjoyed playing on the bowling machine earning over 200 points which won him free ice cream cones. And, who better to serve him those cones than his future bride, Virginia. The creamery owed him so many ice cream cones that her parents decided it may be less expensive to allow Les to marry their daughter. Les and Virginia married 1953 and have been married for 68 years.
Les was known in the community for his excellent wood working skills, outstanding business ethics, and for building quality construction homes in his development, Kleinwood Terrace, in Spanaway. He owned and operated Tru-Built Cabinet shop for his working lifetime. He was a man of high integrity and known for his legendary quality workmanship and customer satisfaction. He looked forward to his breakfasts with his contractor friends at Little Park Café—affectionally known as "The Office".
Les was an earnest competitor on the golf course. He enjoyed life to the fullest, participating in square dancing, RV travels, cruises, and wintering in their Palm Desert, CA home where they developed lifetime friendships. In 2010, he was inducted into the Tacoma Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame for his excellence in wrestling.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; sister, Ella Henderick; brother, Vohn Kleinsasser (Diana); 3 daughters; Kathi Kleinsasser Miller (Kevin); Kim Kleinsasser Miller (Marty); and Konni Kleinsasser (Krumins) Wagner (Kurt). He has 5 grandchildren: Shane Miller (Holly); Misti Miller Bachmeier (Kellen); Chad Krumins; Chase Krumins (Jessica); and Chandler Krumins. He has 4 great grandchildren, Ryker, Kyzlie, and Brextyn Bachmeier; and Beckett Miller. He is proceeded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, and one sister.
Les meant the world to his family. He was an inspiration for us to work hard, value family, and live life to the fullest. He will be deeply missed, and we honor our journey of life we enjoyed with him.
Please join us in Les' "Celebration of Life" at Acacia Funeral Home at 14951 Bothel Way NE, Seattle, WA on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 12:15 pm.