George Herman Leonard

George Herman Leonard, age 77, passed away on February 16, 2016, after a three year battle with cancer in the home he built in DeTour Village, Michigan. He was born on January, 7, 1939, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Herman and Beatrice (King) Leonard. George’s tribal name is Makadewaa Ma’iingan. He was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and a descendent of the Thessalon Band of Ottawa First Nation. George grew up in DeTour and on Drummond Island, Michigan. He graduated from DeTour High School in DeTour Village, Michigan in 1959. George joined the United States Navy in 1960 where he served for four years with Fleet Tactical Support Squadron 24 based in Morocco, as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate, Third Class. Upon completion of his service, he returned to Michigan and shortly after began work for Fisher Body in Flint, Michigan. In 1965 while George was living in Flint, he shoveled the driveway for his snowbound next door neighbor, Angela Burnett. He did such a great job that three months later they were married on her parent’s farm in Charlotte, Michigan. They were happily married for 50 years. After leaving Flint, he worked for two years surveying for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, followed by employment at Drummond Dolomite for 19 years. George worked for NOAA as boat captain and surveyor of northern Lake Huron one year and shortly after, he opened two restaurants in DeTour Village, the Point DeTour Café for six years and the Fogcutter for one season. Finally, George and Angela managed Metivier Inn on Mackinac Island for nine years, retiring in 2005. George was a renaissance man. He was a naturally gifted self-taught wildlife artist who enjoyed a lifelong passion, working in pen and ink and in pencil and pastels as well as producing wood carvings and decorative gourds. He was also an accomplished carpenter who loved working with wood and over his lifetime built many pieces of furniture, including complete sets of kitchen cabinets for his home and for friends. A true “foodie,” George received great pleasure in cooking for others and volunteered his cooking skills from time to time for fundraisers. George is survived by his spouse, Angela of DeTour Village; his son, Kevin Philo (Shannon Mulally) Leonard of Holt, Michigan; and his grandson, Finn Philo Leonard. He is also survived by his brother, Philbert (Pangeta) Leonard of St. Ignace, Michigan; sisters, Geraldine (Jim) Huyck of St. Ignace, Leona (James) DeKeyser of St. Ignace, Hermina (Randy) Tatrow of St. Ignace, Diane (Mick) Adams of DeTour, and Sharon (Richard) Socia of Drummond Island; mother-in-law, Ola Burnett of Charlotte; sisters-in-law, Juanita (Kevin) Thorton of Olivet, Michigan, and Carolyn (Edward) Moghtader of St. Joseph, Michigan; and brother-in-law, Dave (Marge) Burnett of Ottawa Township, Michigan; 28 nieces and nephews; nine great nieces and nephews; and many first cousins in Ontario, New York state, and the Chicago area. George was preceded in death by his father, Herman Benedict Leonard; mother, Beatrice Constance (King) Leonard; father-in-law, Joel Burnett; sister-in-law, Terri Burnett; and two nephews, Daryl DeKeyser and David Huyck. A memorial service will be held June 18, 2016 in DeTour Village. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in DeTour Township, in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to The George Leonard Memorial Fund at the DeTour Drummond Credit Union, P.O. Box 183, DeTour Village, MI 49725 to be used to build a protective roof for the Philo B. Leonard at the Botanical Gardens in DeTour.

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George Herman Leonard

January 7, 1939 - February 16, 2016