Leonard Duchesneau 1955-2024
Leonard L. Duchesneau, 68, Denison, died Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
He was born March 19, 1955, at Travis AFB in Fairfield, Calif., the son of Master Sgt. Rene D. “Dutch” Duchesneau and Wilma Mae Schreiber. He attended grade school in California and in Soldier, graduating from Jackson Heights High School in 1973.
Mr. Duchesneau worked for Goodyear Tire Company from 1973 to 1980, starting as a tire builder, voted to union steward and appointed supervisor over radial tire building. He also worked for the City of Topeka for several years in the street department, parks department and WPC.
He was a certified ASA Umpire and was assigned to umpire as chief and district commissioner to oversee Class D regional tournaments. He helped form the Jaycees club and was president for three years.
He married Becky Wheeler in 1975. They later divorced. He married Donna J. Minnis on Aug. 7, 1993, in Topeka. She survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Victor L. Duchesneau, Fairview, Bradley L. Duchesneau and wife Jamie and Jacque L. Duchesneau, both of Topeka; two stepsons, Thomas Judy and wife Monique, Topeka, and Micheal Judy and wife Ashley, Middletown, Ohio; two sisters, Grace Young, Houston, Texas, and Tawnie Hopkins, Holton; and 19 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rene D. “Dutch” Duchesneau; his mother, Wilma Mae Duchesneau Muckey; his stepfather, Cliff Muckey; two stepdaughters, Chante Judy and Emily Shaffer; a sister, Barbara Keehn; a brother, Larry Duchesneau; and a nephew, Dennis Keehn.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow in Soldier Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Jackson Heights High School for softball and baseball fields, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.
