Obituary of Leon Washington

It is with deep sadness and grief that we announce the passing of Leon Washington, age 62, on October 2, 2019.

Leon was born to Emma (Polite) and John Washington, Sr. on September 5, 1957 in Beaufort, South Carolina. The circumstances of his birth were quite unusual and might have been an early indication of his spirit, his loyalty, his commitment, his service, his generosity, his dignity, his courage and his perseverance - he understood that life was a precious gift.

Leon grew up in Frogmore, St. Helena Island, South Carolina, a sea island of the Low Country, and was always proud of his Geechee country roots and unique Gullah heritage that formed his childhood. He excelled as a student and as an athlete, playing football and basketball and participating in track and boxing at Beaufort High School. He was known as a kind, helpful and hardworking young man.

While going to middle and high school, Leon worked various jobs to help his family after his father died. He often talked about shrimping and working at various fishing companies and watermelon farms and at Hunting Island State Park. Based on this experience, he was a self-proclaimed expert at picking the best watermelons at the store, and Leon was usually right. While working as a kid, he always kept a few cents to buy sweets. Leon, a lifelong athlete, never drank or smoked.  His only “vice” was his love for everything sweet, including cookies, particularly Pecan Sandies. 

In order to pursue opportunities, adventures and a college degree, he joined the United States Army after high school in September 1976. After finishing basic and MOs training in Fort Gordon, Georgia, 19-year-old Leon got orders for the 8^th Signal Battalion, Company B, in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, his first tour of duty, where he arrived on a cold, snowy winter’s day, something so foreign to him. Leon began his career as part of the Army’s “cable dog” telecommunications signal team, when telecommunication still required switchboards and stringing telephone cable by climbing tall poles and trees. His career would eventually lead him from those “cable dog” days to managing sophisticated, satellite telecommunication systems.

Leon’s choice to join the Army was life changing for him and brought many adventures around the world. The most significant adventure was finding his forever sweetheart in Germany, a country the furthest from his mind, as he told the story.  When the Sea Island boy met the Rhine Valley girl while dancing at the discotheque, the odds against them could not have been any bigger due to cultural, racial, familial, and language barriers and differences, but it was love at first sight, and it was the beginning of a 40-year love story that persevered against all odds. Leon married the love of his life, Daniela Bremmer, on January 4, 1980, in Germany.

The next five years were marked with their mutual love of dancing but also hard work. Their first military move together took the young couple to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where Leon worked at advancing his military career and Daniela attended college. This was no easy assignment for Leon and Daniela; they often were subjected to harassment and discrimination, as their residence was right outside KKK country. But again, with love, dignity and perseverance, they continued strong together. In 1983, he would get orders and Leon was beyond excited to get stationed again in Germany, where he worked at 143rd Signal Battalion, Company C in Frankfurt and where Daniela started working at Frankfurt MILCOM. It was here, in Frankfurt, where the two other loves of his life were born, his daughters, Danika and Saskia.  Leon was an amazing father and “Papi” to his girls.  Despite long duty hours and challenging field duties, he made every effort to be with his girls, who he loved more than life itself. 

Leon loved being in Germany and tried to stay but, as usual, the Army had other plans, and right before Saskia was born in 1987, he got surprise orders for stateside duty. So, with an infant in one arm and a toddler on the other, the family moved 8,000 miles to Washington State, where Leon got assigned to Fort Lewis. Washington seemed an open, accepting and safe place for the young, multicultural family. In addition, the natural environment was beautiful, so Washington State and Lacey became the permanent home for the family and served as the family’s “home base” while Leon went off to various extended assignments, including Korea and two more years in Germany. Leon served over 20 years in the military, 10 of those years in Germany. He concluded his distinguished military career in 1997 with the 29^th Signal Battalion in Fort Lewis. Leon’s decision to retire was not an easy one; he was proud to serve and the Army lured him with promotions and a reenlistment bonus, but he felt that it was time to be with his family.

After he retired from the Army, he used his experience as a Satellite Telecommunications Manager and worked for Boeing contractors, but his new work required long hours up and down the I-5 corridor, too many hours away from family.  Leon had always been a gifted and sought-after instructor, coach and mentor during his military career, and he decided that it was now time to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher. He loved to help children and young adults, and had a unique talent to connect with them. Leon always had a passion for helping people, and even more so helping children. After he earned his Associate of Arts degree at SPSCC and then his Bachelor of Arts in Education degree at Saint Martin’s College, he started as a substitute teacher and thrived in the classroom. Leon loved teaching. He always had a smile for everyone; he was always a social, friendly and easily approachable man. He made many friends during his military career but also during his time studying at St Martin’s College, where he enjoyed meeting and befriending many local and international students.

Leon was a dad (“Papi”) by blood to his two daughters, but he was a dad by love to many other children. Every friend of Danika and Saskia instantly became part of his family; he embraced and loved all kids and young people coming through his door. Leon was a youthful man, both in looks and in spirit. Kids loved him and he loved them back. He was also a jokester, always cheerful, able to laugh about himself and with others. He often pulled prank, such as jumping from behind doors or creating spooky Halloween decorations on the family porch (where he was the scarecrow). When calling the family home phone number, it would not be unusual for callers being greeted by a foreign voice (other than German!) such that many people promptly hung up thinking they had the wrong number. Leon had a real knack for foreign accents and he especially enjoyed confusing telemarketers with long, accented conversations. He was a kid at heart and always maintained that zest for life.

Leon had many interests. Some of his most notable were his handyman skills, love for music, talent for whipping up a good meal, and Papa-Razzi like behavior. He often put his military “cable dog” and telecommunication skills to use at the house and yard.  He would climb steep roof lines to string Christmas lights or climb huge fir trees. When the family moved on Thanksgiving to a new home, the new neighbors were impressed; Leon was the first to have the Christmas lights up. He loved decorating with lights and won several neighborhood Christmas light competitions. Each home had special features added by Leon, like television cable and speaker wiring for full musical immersion at all times, in every room! Music was a big part of Leon’s life. He had a large collection of records, CDs, and musical instruments. Often you’d find him tinkering on the piano, strumming some chords on his bass guitar, or using chop sticks as makeshift drumsticks.  If not that, music was always playing in the car or house with him singing along.  Leon also loved to cook and he forever sought to expand his repertoire of dishes, adding German, Chinese, and Korean dishes to his top chef meals. He loved to experiment, which meant the fridge was always full of exotic sauces and condiments and cabinets full of every spice imaginable. Everyone was happy to eat whatever came out of his kitchen.  

Leon was an athlete and excelled at many sports, especially basketball. His jump shots were famous. After retiring from the military, he would go to the gym or a neighborhood park and pick up a game, joking that he was the oldest guy on the court, but watching him, it was clear that he still could jump the highest. But Leon is probably most known for his love for photography and always having a camera in hand. During his younger years, he took to developing his own films. When digital photography and videography was new, Leon was the first to test out the new technology. It was not unusual for him to be carrying a camera or two at all times! He loved to take pictures of landscapes and capture candid shots of people. When Leon was around, you always had your smile ready…not just for the camera, but because he always brought that out of people.

Leon gave back to his community, volunteering and taking on various roles. He was a leader and advocate for local youths. Leon spent many years volunteering for the Special Olympics, and he served eight years as a Lacey Youth Basketball couch. Leon was a gifted coach, kind and nurturing, helping so many young boys during that time. During his military time, Leon was known to finish a 24-hour shift at Ft. Lewis and then stay up to coach basketball or help someone.  During Leon’s after military and college years, he spent a lot of time with his girls, becoming well-known for supporting their respective schools, swim-clubs, after school events, chaperoning many Lacey ACT nights, and volunteering whenever he had the opportunity. Leon also supported the Olympia German Club and several other local organizations. Leon was particularly proud to become a City of Lacey volunteer firefighter. He loved serving his community in that role, and always proudly sported his Lacey firefighter cap.

Leon was a loving son to his mother Emma until her death, and a caring and supportive brother to his siblings, always there whenever anyone needed him. Leon had a big family and his siblings include Rosemary, Chap, Alphonzo, Robert, John Jr., Winston, David, Annette, James, Kevin, and Lottie. Leon was especially close to his big sister, Rosemary, who was like a second mother to him, and who he loved very much.

There was never a time when Leon wasn’t helping someone or serving others. Even during his long illness with early-onset Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson, Leon was checking up on people weaker or sicker than him, sharing his food, sharing his million-dollar smile and continuing to give despite his own illness. Many people commented on Leon’s special gifts, even those who never knew him while well. He made such an impression with everyone who met him. Even during the last two years of his illness, when he could no longer communicate or move, those who met him were so touched by his spirit, his kindness, his smile, his gentle and giving nature, they felt and understood his amazing gift. Leon’s brain was donated to Lewy Body research at the University of Washington. So Leon gave back one more time after a life of service as a decorated army veteran, mentor, coach, teacher and humanitarian. But most of all, he was an incredible father to his daughters and a loving husband to his wife.

Daniela and her daughters want to thank all those who supported Leon throughout this life and especially those individuals who were by his side during the last six years: the caregivers, nurses, doctors, medical staff, therapist, social workers, pastors, chaplains and volunteers who assisted Leon, and the friends, acquaintances and strangers who held his, Daniela’s and their daughters’ hands, who showed up and did what was needed. Your support, love and compassion meant more than you will ever know.

Leon is deeply loved and mourned by his Schatz, wife, Daniela Bremmer Washington; by his Scooby, daughter, Danika Washington; by his Maus, daughter, Saskia (Washington) Swensington; and daughter-in-law, Jessica Swensington; and by many family members in the U.S., as well as in Germany. Leon’s steadfast love, his loyalty, his generosity, his dignity, his courage and his laughter will forever inspire us.

Funeral and Celebration of Life

Military Burial, Tahoma National Cemetery, November 15, 2019

Celebration of Leon’s Life will take place November 15, 2019, 5:00 p.m. at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 4300 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, WA 98503.

The family invites you to freely share your stories and memories of Leon on this website so it can be collected, read at his Celebration of Life, or presented by you, if you are able to.

Donations

NO FLOWERS PLEASE.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests donations to help continue Leon’s legacy and his work with children and youth.

You may donate by sending a check, payable to “Leon Washington Charity Fund” or electronic deposit to:

“Leon Washington Charity Fund”

Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU)

Acct #: 7157070

Routing #:325181028

NO FLOWERS PLEASE.