Leroy W. Wiese
Jan. 8, 1936 – Feb. 9, 2020
LeRoy Wiese, 84, lately of Henrico, Virginia, passed away quietly on Sunday, February 9, 2020, surrounded by his family at his home in Chestnut Grove Assisted Living.
LeRoy grew up in the small town of Ortonville, Minnesota, near Big Stone Lake and the South Dakota border. He played football in high school, and after graduation in 1954 he moved, along with his best friend, to Waukegan, Illinois because he had heard that there were good paying jobs available. He could afford only one meal a day at McDonald’s during those lean times, and his friend soon grew discouraged and moved back to Minnesota. LeRoy found a job at Fansteel in Waukegan, and began work on the production line. LeRoy made enough money to bring down his high school sweetheart, Joan, and they were married on August 31, 1957. He eventually took accounting courses at night school and began managing the small credit union at the plant. When the plant closed in 1987, he moved over to a larger credit union organization and became the go-to manager for supervising the construction of new branches and training the staff. LeRoy and Joan retired in 1999 and moved to 13 acres in rural Louisa County, Virginia, where they built a house, raised chickens and goats, and LeRoy spent much of his time puttering around in the yard and woods, riding his tractors and splitting wood for the fireplace. A few years after Joan passed away in 2010, he moved to Chestnut Grove and grew to love his apartment and the other residents and staff. Survivors include his three sons, Jeff, Jay, and Kevin, four grandchildren, and his younger sister, Janice.
A memorial for family and friends will be held at a later date in northern Illinois. Flowers may be sent in memory of LeRoy to Chestnut Grove, 9010 Woodman Road, Henrico, VA 23228. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of LeRoy Wiese to The American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/.
Dear Kevin, Jay and Jeff,
We’re so deeply sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. We’re thinking of all of you.
Love, Sherri, Dave, Ben & Zak
Kevin Jay and Jeff
Our condolances on the passing of your father. LeRoy was as much a friend as a brother in law. They had a good life, worked hard and raised some great kids. The pain will pass, but the good memories will remain.
Please accept our sincere condolences, I just received Jeff’s email today and was unaware of LeRoy’s passing. Words can not express my sincere privilege it was, to have known your Dad and Mum. We worked together at the Consumers Cooperative Credit Union for many years, and it was truly a privilege to have been considered a “friend”. Kathleen (my wife) was originally hired by your Dad, and we ofter share the memories – (good times), we all had. Plese know, that your Dad truly was a positive influence on me and my family. Our sincere condolences – Gerry & Kathleen Crews
I had it seen Leroy since his high school graduation. Tried to get together some years ago, but we’re unable to do so. If his sister, Janice reads this, contact me. I live in Amery, WI.
Sorry to hear of Leroy’s passing.
I should have mentioned that LeRoy and I are first cousins. Our fathers were brothers and their father was Henry.