Leonard Carl “Len” “Lala” Petroskey, Sr.
Leonard Carl “Len” “Lala” Petroskey, Sr., age 91 of Virginia died Monday, May 31, 2010 in St. Raphael’s Health and Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness. He was born November 3, 1918 in Virginia, the son of Walter and Josephine (Kolosek) Petroskey and was a graduate of Virginia High School, Class of 1938. Len was a decorated U.S. Army veteran of WWII, serving from 19 Aug 1942 until 18 Dec 1945. He served in the European – African- Middle Eastern Theatre and in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Len married Dorothy Katherine Benkusky on May 22, 1948 in Virginia. He graduated from Dunwoody Institute in 1949 studying to be an electrician. Len entered into the IBEW in 1950 and was a member for sixty years. He worked as a Superintendent for Industrial Electric during the construction of the Extac plant and traveled to Thule, Greenland to work on an Early Warning Radar Site. Len worked for Dostal Electric during the 1960’s and owned and operated Petroskey Electric from 1969 until his retirement. Len liked to hunt, fish, read, listen to music and enjoyed square dancing and new technology. He loved to work on projects around the house and the cabin on Sand Lake. Leonard was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, the Virginia Council of the Knights of Columbus, IBEW local # 294, and was a member of Crellin-Tini VFW Post # 1113 in Virginia.
Leonard is survived by children: Dorothy “Dolly” Schmidt Wyatt of Monticello, MN, Leonard (fiancée Connie Christianson) Petroskey, Jr. of Mt. Iron, and James J. “Spanky” Petroskey of Virginia; grandchildren: Leonard (Jennifer) Petroskey III, Katie (Kevin) Korte, Jennifer (Paul) O’Donnell, and Courtney (Jacob) Jensvold; great-grandchildren: Mya Petroskey, Kristjan Korte, Nicholas, Allana, & Liam O’Donnell and Ella and Robert Jensvold; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Dorothy; his parents and siblings: Bernard, Edward, Stanley, Sr., John, Jane Simonson, and Felicia Matkovich.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 12 Noon until the 1:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia. Reverend Father John O’Donnell will celebrate the Mass. Interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Virginia Servicemen’s Honor Guard.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to Katie Korte and the staff of St Raphael’s for their loving care.
Family Services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share personal remembrances online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.
