DEACON LEONARD D. "LEN" HOLLAND, age 87, of Lake Station, passed away Sunday, March 18, 2012 at the Golden Living Center in Valparaiso. Len had been a lifelong Lake Station resident and graduated from Bishop Noll High School in 1943. During WW II he served in the US Army Signal Corps for 2 years in the Pacific Theatre. The signal corps for which he served assisted the Army Air Corps who launched the two atomic bombs from Tinian against Japan. Len graduated from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer in 1951. He was employed at Dun & Bradstreet where he wrote the initial credit report on McDonalds. Subsequently he was employed with Metropolitan Life and National Life & Casualty. Also employed at Harvey's Mart in Lake Station and at Rees Funeral Homes. Leonard was a devout Catholic whose lifelong Christian service began as an altar boy at age 6 and culminated in 1982 when he was ordained a Deacon and faithfully served his parish, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lake Station for many years. Mr. Holland was also a civic leader, serving in various capacities including: Plan Commission, Zoning Board, member of the Lake Station School Board, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and Community Development Association. Len was a charter member and Past Grand Knight of St. Clement Council #3283 and Abraham Lincoln 4th Degree Knight. Len was a life member of Lake Station VFW #3283. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 48 years, Ellie, parents, Denis & Delia (nee O'Donahue) Holland and sister, Irene Theresa Holland.
Len is survived by his son, Dennis (Robin) Holland of Lake Station, 6 daughters: Sharon (Darrell) Whitledge, Karen (John) Nauta, Patricia (Charles) Scanlon, Maureen (Dan) Miller, all of Lake Station, Kathleen (David) Aldrin and Mary Beth (Donald) Livingston, both of Hobart, sister, Bernice Holland of Lake Station, 13 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and his faithful poodle, "Binky".
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 23, 2012 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2447 Putnam St., Lake Station, at 10:00 am with Rev. Eduardo Malagon and Rev. Robert B. Evers con-celebrating the Mass. Burial at Calvary Cemetery in Portage. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-8 pm with a K of C rosary at 6:30 pm & Parish Wake service at 7:00 pm at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd., Hobart, 219-942-2109 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.