Leonard Merle Goodell, 91, of Grand Marais, died Sunday, May 6, 2018 in the comforts of his home.
Leonard was born in Mankato, Minn. on March 25, 1927 to Harvey Goodell and Helen Brown. He graduated from Cloquet High School and then served as an electrician’s mate in the Navy SeaBees for two years. He married Margaret Louise Merfeld on May 10, 1947 and worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone in Cloquet. He transferred to Grand Marais in 1957 and continued with Northwestern Bell Telephone and Qwest for 30 years until his health forced him to retire. He was the 33rd Northwestern Bell Telephone employee to receive the Bell System Bronze Vail Award for saving the lives of two hunters whose truck had slipped into the Cascade River
Leonard spent his time in the outdoors hunting, fishing, trapping, golfing, curling, snowmobiling, enjoying his boat (the Maynard) on Lake Superior and the cabin at Greenwood Lake, and winters in Texas and Hawaii. He thoroughly enjoyed time spent at the local haunts, Donut Shop, fish houses, Blue Water, and SOB solving the world’s problems with his buddies.
He served on the local park board and was a union steward and a member of the Masonic Lodge for 50 years.
Leonard is survived by his wife of 71 years, Louise; son Rick (Polly), Clintonville, Wis.; daughters Karen (William) Tormondsen, Duluth and Susan Goodell, Grand Marais; grandsons Erik, Marc, Zeb and Lewis; and four great-grandchildren and one arriving soon.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 16 at Cornerstone Community Church in Grand Marais.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to the Senior Center, North Shore Home Care, and American Legion Post 413.
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