Leona “Lee” Klesman

February 17th, 2016

Lee was heading off to Egypt, she came close and whisper into my ear that she wasn’t going to get anybody souvenirs, then she asked if I wanted anything. I thought for a moment what would be an easy gift for her to get me, so I said that I would like “some sand”. When Lee got back she comes up to me and hands me a small bottle filled with Layers of colored sand. I thank her but I think she could tell from the look on my face that it wasn’t exactly what I had wanted. Later that day I told her all I really wanted was just a small sample of the sand by the pyramids or the desert in Egypt. After that she brought me back a sample of sand from all of her adventures all over the world, I have over 20 sands from all around the globe. Lee may be gone but she will never be forgotten.

~Tom Wagner
~coworker, Antioch, IL

February 13th, 2016

Lee and I had a fun relationship. She was my work grandma. We always had a playful banter. I loved her stories of all her vacations and adventures. My fondest memory was of when she want on her cruise to Alaska and I asked her to bring me back a baby polar bear. She told me she would see waht she could do. She came back with this lovely polar bear that sits on my computer at work. She told me she tried to bring me back a real one but didn’t think that animal control would welcome it… Lee was one of the stongest woman that I have met in my lifetime and I will never forget her never give up attitude. I am honored to have known her. She taught me to fight until the end. And that is what she did. My condolences to the family and know that she will be missed.

~Maria Marcos
~Service Manager @Jewel, Wilmette IL