Carl Edward Leonard II

December 25, 1945 — November 29, 2023

Carl Edward Leonard II was born on Christmas Day 1945 in Lorain, Ohio to Carl Edward Leonard and Helen (Veres) Leonard. He died peacefully Nov. 29, 2023, after a short illness, surrounded by his beloved family.

After losing his mother at the young age of 8, Carl spent much of his time with his grandparents. Carl’s love of nature and the woods was nurtured during this time by his grandfather, who was an excellent woodworker, who had immigrated from Hungary through Ellis Island. His grandparents used to have campfires by the barn for the grandchildren, helping them roast small bacon slabs while telling stories and singing.

Carl loved music and played several instruments including guitar and French horn. He moved to California with his father when he was in high school and joined his school’s marching band in the Rose Parade. Carl also learned to surf at this time and spent many hours riding the waves. After college, Carl worked at McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach. He then moved to the Pacific Northwest to spend more time outdoors and in particular, the woods. He was intrigued by computers, which became his career later in life as a software designer and programmer. Carl worked in the IT department in the Oak Harbor School District for over 20 years.

Carl had a big heart and a kind spirit. He was also very smart and quite funny, often seeing reality in a way that was 45 degrees different from others. He enjoyed taking his tractor and chain saw into the woods to clear new paths, cut firewood and care for the forest. Carl instilled his love of the woods in his friends, children, and grandchildren with nature walks. His grandchildren loved “helping” drive the tractor.

Carl is survived by his wife of 28 years, Mary Ellen O’Connor; and stepdaughter, Linnane (Jeff) Armstrong; his ex-wife, Sara Bowdoin-Jones; daughter, Geneva (Bo) Oseguera and son Forrest (Robyn Stevens) Leonard; his ex-wife, Mary Jo Waluck-Leonard; stepdaughters Danielle (Paul) Crownover and Jodi (Brad) Todd. Carl loved all of his grandchildren: Connor, Finn, Bowdoin, Brooklyn, Emily, Hannah, Grace, Michaela, Alex, Ashley and Taylor; and his great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his older brother John (Barbara) Leonard and John’s four sons and 10 grandchildren.

Carl’s infectious smile and easy-going nature will be dearly missed. A memorial service for family and friends will be held in the spring.