Leonard Baumgartner

Date of Birth

Oct 14,1944

Date of Death

Aug 10,2017

Leonard E. Baumgartner, age 72, of Maple Park, unexpectedly went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva.
Leonard was born into this world on Thursday, October 19, 1944 in Chicago, the son of Roy and Esther (Scharringhausen) Baumgartner.
Leonard grew up in Bensenville on a farm which is now Ohare Field. The family then moved to farm in Bloomingdale where they raised tomatoes to be sold to the Campbell Soup company. Due to his father’s continued illness, Leonard helped out on the family farm. This experience instilled in him a work ethic that stayed with him the rest of his life. Leonard loved playing baseball as a child and had a dream of one day being a Major League pitcher.
Leonard attended local schools in Bloomingdale and graduated from Glenbard West High School in 1962.
One day in 1962, just down the road from his house, Leonard was at a local roller rink when he met a beautiful girl that would soon become his forever love. In February of 1963 at a drive-in theater Leonard asked for Judy Young’s hand in marriage. They were married on June 27, 1964 at the St. John Evangelical Church in Bensenville; just days after Judy graduated high school.
After high school Leonard worked 6 months for Roger King Construction, until he started his first of two long careers. Leonard began working at the Elburn Packing Plant as their night shipping foreman. He faithfully worked for them for 20 years until they closed in 1985. While still at the packing plant Leonard also worked on his farm. Lenny was defined as a workaholic by many, working all night, getting home to work on the farm, sleep a few hours and get up in time work again at 9:00pm. After the plant was closed he found his second career. Leonard went to work for Forth Street Motors in DeKalb for a year, then to State Street Motors in Sycamore until 1987 when he received a phone call from Harms Motors (now Bob Jass Chevrolet) recruiting him to Elburn. Lenny served 30 years as one of Elburn’s most favored sales managers. He was proud to have served many multi-generations in the same family. He loved what he did for a living and everyone knew it. Along with many awards from General Motors as a top salesman, Leonard was awarded the highest award the Lions Club could award to anyone; the Melvin Jones award. Additionally, Leonard helped put in place the program that allows the Elburn Lions Club to donate a car every year for the Elburn Day’s raffle. Leonard enjoyed ordering the car that would be later won by one lucky person.
Leonard was a long time and faithful member of Grace United Methodist Church in Maple Park. He was a member of the GM Truck Club, where he socialized with members to learn about the new line of trucks and accessories. Leonard also served on the Kaneland High School Sports Boosters Club.
Leonard loved to serve his God and his church; he was a friend to all and had no enemies. Leonard and Judy for many years enjoyed traveling to their winter home in Florida from January through April. Lenny was even known to sell a few cars while he was gone. Sports were a passion of his. If he couldn’t be a professional pitcher the next best thing was to watch any and all sports live or on television. He was known to be watching multiple games at once flipping back and forth as he could. Even on the home front Lenny was a big supporter of Kaneland High School sports and attended as many home games as he could. Leonard and Judy traveled the country to support their grandchildren as they played sports or performed at multiple venues. Spending time with his family and friends brought great joy to him.
He now leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years; Judy Baumgartner, four children; Vernon (Kimberly) Baumgartner, Tammie Ring, Allen (Jamie) Baumgartner, and David (Jena) Villarreal, five grandchildren; Natasha and William Ring, III, Alex and Jacob Baumgartner, and David Henry Villarreal II, one sister; Betty Reingardt, many nieces and nephews and a community of friends.
Leonard joins his parents; Roy and Esther (Scharringhausen) Baumgartner, one brother-in-law; Harry Reingardt, and one grandson; Dustin Villarreal.
A visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm, Monday, August 14, 2017 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Maple Park, 506 Willow Street. Funeral services to celebrate Leonard’s life will be Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 10:30am at the church with Pastor Joe Munro officiating. Burial will follow at Ohio Grove Cemetery in Sycamore.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Leonard’s name. Checks may be made to the “Leonard Baumgartner Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

Funeral services to celebrate Leonard’s life will be Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 10:30am at the church with Pastor Joe Munro officiating.

A visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm, Monday, August 14, 2017 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Maple Park, 506 Willow Street.

Burial will follow at Ohio Grove Cemetery in Sycamore.

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