Leonard Oles

Oles, Leonard Roy - age 85, passed away Monday, December 19, 2022, of advanced stages of dementia, COPD, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Carcinoma of Bladder.  Interment will be held on his birthday, 2:30 PM Friday, March 24, 2023 at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd. Holly, MI.  Leonard was born March 24, 1937, in Haslett, MI, the son of Ray and Nellie (Moot) Oles.  He attended Sexton High School.  Leonard was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  He was an owner and operator of many businesses, including Sports Shops, Live Bait and Tackle, Guns and Ammunition, Mini Golf, Outdoor Survival Expert, Hunting Expeditions, Fire Jumper, Wholesale Fishing Tackle, Electrician, and Plumber.  Leonard would do anything for anyone and not expect anything in return except a Thank You.  He was a man of many talents, that could do just about anything.  Growing up he and his siblings would play jokes and pick on one another and their mother too.  You never knew what was next around the corner.  Leonard's father Ray built violins and his mother Nellie played the piano.  Leonard enjoyed listening to his parents play music.  He learned by ear to play multiple instruments including piano, violin, banjo, guitar, harmonica, steel electric guitar, accordion, spoons, ukulele and tambourine.   He and his brothers were in many bands where they sang and played country and blue grass music.  Leonard and his brothers Dave, Clifford and their father Ray played for their brother Calvin and Judy's wedding.  Leonard or Lenny as he was lovingly referred to built the family home in Grayling, MI.  He enjoyed repairing things and there was very little that he couldn't fix.  Lenny repaired and built specialty pedal bikes.  He enjoyed painting and would often paint on old saw blades and old wood.  He enjoyed building houses for animals, birds, ducks, butterflies, bats, making lawn ornaments, and small bridges to cross over creeks.  Lenny even built the water wheel on the back pond at the family's home in Grayling, MI.  He also built a pair of stilts for his daughter Sandi and taught her how to walk on them.  He knew how to make something special out of nothing!  Leonard was a wonderful father always putting his family first.  He was a happy-go-lucky guy who thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors.

Surviving are:  his daughter, Sandi & Son-In-Law Mark Sanchez of DeWitt, grandson Jerid & wife Ambera Bedard of Lansing; 2 great grandchildren, Lilly (age 10) & Levi (age 4); siblings Cliff & Barb Oles, Sr. of St. Johns, Patsy Rojas of St. Johns; sister-in-law Judy Oles of Charlotte; nephew, Michael Oles; former wife, Mary Keusch of Lansing; whom even after being divorced for many years, took him back and always cared for him.  He was preceded in death by:  his parents Ray & Nellie Oles, brother's Virgil, David, Calvin, Jerry, Arthur and sister Laurane.  Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.