Obituary of Leonard Freeman Fiske

Leonard Freeman Fiske May 5, 1914-May 22, 2011 Leonard Freeman Fiske was born May 5, 1914, on a homestead at Franklin, Montana, and was the first of Roy and Lillian Fiske’s seven children. He passed away peacefully at his home at Firs Senior Living in Olympia, Washington, early Sunday morning, May 22, 2011. Leonard attended rural schools and Ryegate High School. He married Zelda Geer in 1937, and they had three children: son Charles, daughter Sharon, and their first-born daughter who died at birth. Leonard moved to Seattle in 1941 where he worked for Boeing Industries. After the war, he began his career with the Washington State Game Department. A highlight of those years was when Leonard designed revisions to a delivery truck and barged it to an island, loaded and hauled wild elk--a project that he was honored for recently with a ceremony at the Department. Leonard and Zelda later moved to Centralia and, when he retired in 1974, moved to Olympia and enjoyed traveling with their Airstream Trailer. Zelda passed away in 1994. Leonard’s passion was tinkering with machines and vehicles and enjoyed inventing new types, including an all-electric car years before the idea became popular. During his life, Leonard said he was a farmer, a cowboy, a shepherd, a mechanic, equipment operator, and built bombers in WWII. Leonard married Winifred Smith in 1995 and took up oil painting and writing. They toured the country in their motor home while he enjoyed his new pursuits. His first book, “Homestead Days,” was published in 2005 and his second, “Better Days Ahead,” in 2010. He was working on a third, “This Little Boy,” at the time of his death. Commenting in his second book on a trip to England taken when he was 86, Leonard said he thought he would never fly again and “I hope going to heaven isn’t by plane.” Although he was retired for more than 30 years, he never stopped working, and enjoyed doing all types of repair jobs just as much as he enjoyed driving his Cadillac, which he did safely up until two weeks before his death. His son, Charles; and six siblings preceded Leonard in death. His wife, Winifred; daughter, Sharon; grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive him. To leave memories of Leonard or condolences for the family, please click on "View Guestbook" below.