William A. Leenheer

William August Leenheer, aged 93 passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at Superior Woods Health Care Center in Ypsilanti, MI where he was in residence for one month.  Bill was born on February 10, 1923 to Leonard and Anna (Teat) Leenheer.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Wilma (Mitch) Moore of Winston-Salem, NC; ex-wife and mother of their children, Virginia; ex-wife, Beulah and also his long-time companion, Letha Harig.  He is survived by his four children, MaryAnne Leenheer and companion Fredrico Estevez of Mexico City, Mexico, Michael (Ruth) Leenheer of Dexter, MI, Gary Eddy of Austin, TX, William Jr. of Grand Rapids MI; four grandchildren, Dr. Sophia (Tyson) Verstrate of CA and their children, Tyson T. and Ella Verstrate, Fernando E. Sanchez of Mexico City, Dana Leenheer of Colorado Springs, CO and Adam Leenheer of Seattle, WA.  William grew up in Grand Rapids where he graduated from Central High School and enjoyed their many class reunions.  After high school he went to Army Engineering school but was sent to war in the 394^th Infantry, 99^th Division.  They started out in England, then to the Ardennes Forest in Belgium where they broke through the Seigfrid Line and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  The following spring they were at the Bridge of Romagen to cross the Rhine River. Eventually they joined up with Patton’s 1^st Division for their march through Germany as the war ended.  After the war, he attended the University of Michigan before entering the construction trades to become a self-employed contractor.  He loved to barter and was a very social person.  In his later years he loved to eat out many times to Russ’ for the “meat lover’s special” and continued to drive until December 2015 well into his 92^nd year.  He loved to play his accordion in the house he built in Wyoming, MI.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Friday, March 18 at 11:00 am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 4101 Clyde Park SW.  Interment in Resurrection Cemetery.  Members of the family will receive relatives and friends at the Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Chapel, (Wyoming), 4031 Clyde Park SW Thursday, March 17 from 6-8 pm with a Rosary Service at 7 pm. Visitation will also be at the church on Friday from 10-11 am.  The family requests that memorial contributions be given to VFW or VA.