Leonard Holmes

Leonard W. Holmes, age 79, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away on Tuesday evening, Nov. 22, 2016 at New Friends Memory Care in Kalamazoo. He was born on March 11, 1937 in Schoolcraft, MI, the son of the late Wayne and Marian (Aldrich) Holmes. Leonard was raised in Schoolcraft and graduated from Schoolcraft High School in 1955. On June 30, 1956, he was united in marriage to the former DeMaris Schug. Leonard was a veteran of the United States Navy serving 4 years from 1955-1959. He was employed by the United States Postal Service for 33 years until his retirement in 1993. After retirement, he and DeMaris spent many winters in Orange Beach, AL, where he loved to walk on the beach. Leonard was a member of the Schoolcraft Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years and an active member of the Schoolcraft United Methodist Church. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, camping, mowing lawns, square-dancing and bike riding. Surviving are his wife of 60 years: DeMaris Holmes; two sons: Steve (Christine) Holmes of Interlochen and Greg (Nancy) Holmes of Holland; two grandchildren he was very proud of: Ashley Holmes of Ft. Wayne, IN and Bryan Holmes of Holland; brothers-in-law: Gordon (Martha) Miller and Lloyd (Nancy) Schug; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding him in death were his parents; sister: Doris Miller; and infant brother, Alan Holmes. A funeral service to celebrate Leonard's life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Nov. 26, at Schoolcraft United Methodist Church, 342 N. Grand Street, where friends may visit with the family from 11am-1pm. Pastor Julia Humenik will officiate. Private family interment will be at Ft. Custer National Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 28. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, New Friends, or Oakland Adult Foster Care. Arrangements were entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes.