Leo Greenwood Sr.

Leo Lynn Greenwood was born on December 14, 1939 to Orville and Ruth Greenwood at the family home in Morley, Michigan. He was the fourth child born to Orville and Ruth. Leo and big brothers Jim, Vern and Keith would later be joined by only sister, Emma Jean and little brother Stanley.

When Orville and Ruth divorced, Ruth married Frank Melbow and they added two more children to Leo’s family; brothers: Peter and Jerry.

During Leo’s younger years, he spent his time doing chores and odd jobs for cash, but he always made sure he took the time to spend his hard earned nickels. His favorite way to spend them was walking to the movie theater to see the latest western movies every chance that he could. Roy Rogers, Gene Autry Tom Mix and the Saturday Buck Rogers series were his favorites to watch.

Leo has always had a hard work ethic. Starting out in the employment field, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs; pushing an ice cream cart, setting pins at the bowling alley, dish washing and siding houses with his father. In 1959, after graduating from Portage Central High School, Leo was hired by Kalamazoo Glass as a Glazier and this was the first step on his career path in the glass industry and as a business owner.

Orville and Mae Greenwood (Leo’s dad and step mom lived at a home on 12th street in Kalamazoo which was next door to LeRoy and Alta Cushing , parents of Carol. For many years Carol had been friends with Leo’s sister Emma Jean but had never met Leo. In the late 50’s when Leo’s brother Jim bought the 12th Street home, Leo moved in with him and soon struck up a friendship with the Cushing family. As a favor to her Mom, Carol asked Leo out on a date to a party. That date started a courtship which included roller skating, hanging out listening to music and many movies located at the local Texas Corners drive in theater.

On August 1, 1959, Leo married Carol, the love of his life, in a small intimate ceremony at the little white chapel located in Texas Corners.

In January 1960 Leo and Carol welcomed their first child, only daughter Wendie Lynn.

In March of 1962, their first son, Leo Lynn Jr. (Lee) was born.

Second son, LeRoy Ernest (Roy) arrived in July of 1964.

Robert Leo (Rob) completed the family of six in June of 1967.

While Leo enjoyed spending time with his immediate and extended family members, he especially enjoyed the time that he spent with his grandchildren which included two grandsons, four granddaughters, three great grandsons and one great granddaughter.

Daughter Wendie and her husband Jon (Steenholdt) gave Leo two grandsons, Jordan and Justin. Justin’s daughter Nova is Leo’s first great granddaughter.

Son Lee’s daughters, Amanda and Anna, were Leo’s first and second granddaughters. Amanda and her husband Ross (Simon) are the parents of great grandson Dylan and Anna is mom to great grandsons Michael and Shawn.

Leo’s youngest grand daughters are Victoria and Meredith, daughters of son Rob and his wife Janet.

While son Roy and his wife Jody have no children, they gave Leo one truly spoiled grand pup, Meg, who loved to sit with Grandpa Leo in his recliner and constantly give him kisses.

In 1977, after working 18 years for Kalamazoo Glass, Leo decided to open his own glass company in the tiny garage at the Greenwood home on Lansing Avenue in Portage, Michigan. Business grew rapidly and in two short years, Leo needed to move into a larger commercial building that would allow for their company to grow. In 1979, Leo opened Greenwood Glass on D Avenue in Kalamazoo. For many years, the glass company employed all of Leo and Carol’s children and at times their spouses. In 2000 Leo retired from Greenwood Glass but found that he missed working and staying busy so he went back to work, working part time for J&J Glass. After working for 4 more years and seeing old friends and making new friends in the glass business, Leo retired for good to be able to spend time with Carol.

For as dedicated as Leo was about always working hard, Leo was equally dedicated about laughing and sharing in on a good joke. Whether Leo was camping at Hidden Lake, fishing at Little Paw Paw, Sugarloaf and Upper Crooked, playing cards with family and friends, getting entertained by the many family bands, going to drive in movies, getting in a round of golf or taking in a stock car race, you could always count on these two things from Leo. He always had a laugh on his lips and a two step dance in his walk.

Leo Lynn Greenwood Sr. passed away on Sunday, August 11, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Jim, Vern and Stan. Left to grieve is Leo’s wife of 54 years, Carol; his 4 children: Wendie (Jon) Steenholdt of Kalamazoo, Lee Greenwood of Kalamazoo, Roy (Jody) Greenwood of Jackson, and Robert (Janet) Greenwood of Lansing; 6 grandchildren: Amanda, Anna, Jordan, Justin, Victoria, and Meredith; 4: great-grandchildren: Michael, Shawn, Dylan and Nova; his sister, Emma Jean; and brothers: Keith, Pete and Jerry; sisters in law: Sandy (Larry) Crawford, Margie (Bill) Evink, and Debbie (Orrin) Sinkler; and many other nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, (375-2900) and the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Please visit Leo’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a photo or memory and sign his guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.