Leonard J. Root, 88, Grand Rapids, formerly of Bigfork, Minnesota, died Saturday Nov. 20, 2010 at Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital.
Leonard was born September 10, 1922 at Bigfork to Foster and Ella Root. Len was a lifelong resident of Itasca County, a man with a big laugh and a twinkle in his eye, a guy with an easy whistle and an impish ability to find humor in most things. He was the second of twelve children, lived his youth on the Old Scenic Highway at Bigfork, and went to an old country school. In 1938 he joined the C.C.C. where he developed many strong friendships, many of which he maintained most of his life. In the early 1940's he found himself in Army, with boot camp at Pensacola, then aboard ship to The Philippines, and then on to Japan. Leonard was a gunner for the Army Corps of Engineers, that tested and rebuilt bridges. He was with a group of men who landed at Hiroshima a few days after the A-bomb was exploded.
In April, 1946 he married Anna Belle Greene. He worked in the iron mines and ran a struggling farm. He returned to his lifelong love of trapping, hunting, and fishing. Len and Anna Belle were blessed with six children over the next ten years. Anna Belle died of cancer in 1956. In 1957 Len moved his family to Cohasset. He loved to play cards and was very competitive. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was known by many names: The Fox, Big Poppa, Grampy, Len, Lenny, Uncle Leonard, Dad, Son, Brother, Father-in-Law, and Friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Anna Belle in 1956; sisters, Irene Stolzeman and Grace Braford; and brothers, Melvin, Gene, Buster, Bill and Russ.
Surviving family includes one son, James Root; daughters, Linda Root, Rose Mary (Jim) Lichtenberg, Sally Jackson, and Anne Marie (Glenn) Berg; grandchildren, Lisa (Jim) Davis, Sara, Abby, Kimberly (Ryan) Erickson, Scott (Darlene) Berg, Jennifer (Joel) Rygh, and Rachel (Mike) Johnson; great-grandchildren, Noah, Gracie, Nathanial, Anna Belle, Abigail, Dereck, Joseph, Chloe, Ethan, Charity, Rorey, Lacey and Danica; sisters Norma Bartell, Vi Starkey, and Rosella Abbott; brother, Walt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation is from 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service on Friday November 26 in the Community Bible Chapel, Cohasset. Rev. Joel Rygh will officiate.
Burial: 2:00 p.m. Friday November 26 in the Bigfork Cemetery.
Libbey Funeral Home, Grand Rapids