Our incredible father and husband, Leonard (Lenny) Migiizin Adams, passed away peacefully in his home on October 22, 2024, at the age of 81. Lenny was born on September 12, 1943, to Leonard and Gertrude.
Lenny lived a remarkable life, growing up in New London, Wisconsin, and was a quintessential child of the 50’s delivering papers, working on farms, using crisco to grease his hair, and being a young wild child.
Lenny grew up with his mother, Gertrude Kern, who later became Joos, and had several siblings: Charlene Joos, Marilyn Tank, Larry Joos, Bruce Joos, Rita Kern, Christine Murchie, and Betty Neitzel. Our father didn’t unite with his father until he was in his 50’s but only knew him for a short time before his father Leonard passed away. Lenny learned he had more siblings, Shawn Adams, Neil Adams, Lee Adams from his father’s side of the family and an opportunity to develop a relationship with a few of them.
Lenny left high school early to join the United States Navy where he served in the intelligence division of the Navy while stationed in Japan. While stationed there, Lenny had a child with his then wife, that unfortunately fell ill why stationed in Japan. Lenny and Lenny Jr. flew back to Washington, D.C. for the child to be taken care of but in a short time he passed due to illness.
Lenny left the Navy and began his journey around the country mastering his next craft. Lenny went from being a mechanic, a butcher, lumber salesman, to eventually carpentry where he mastered the art of bringing life to homes, businesses, and furniture.
Lenny over the years fathered Christopher Adams (Green Bay, Wisconsin) his only daughter Kim Adams (Inverness, Florida), and Lenny Ebel (York, Pennsylvania).
Lenny eventually made his way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, oddly enough, close to the origins of where his own father was from. It is there where Lenny met the love of his life that would forever change his journey, Rosemary (Corp) Adams. Rosemary helped Lenny reconnect with his children, and helped open up pathways to new relationships that would forever be forged together, by healing, repairing, and love. Lenny and Rosemary were married on December 24, 1977, and had Robert “Bob”, David, and Nicholas Adams, but Rosemary treated Kim and Chris Adams as her own kids.
Rosemary’s unwavering love for Lenny was something he carried until his very last days, as he told her how much he loved her, how much he admired her, how strong she is, and how she was the smartest person he knew. Then he asked for prayers to protect her on her new journey without him.
Lenny was known for being a kind, genuine, and goodhearted community member, bringing smiles to many with his jokes, songs, and hard work. For 50 years Lenny did construction and carpentry throughout Michigan, in the days before computers, where pencil and paper turned dreams into marvels. Early on he was part of a big housing project for the Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, where he was also a member. Lenny spent years working for the Tribe, including dedicating his time and efforts to building the first longhouse for the Tribe that was located at the Ojibwe Museum which he also helped renovate. Lenny was also responsible for heading the project to restore the River of History Museum in Sault St. Marie, Michigan.
Lenny eventually had his own construction company in which he employed all of his boys at one time or another, creating some fire stories about what it’s like to work with their dad, who mastered every project he worked on. It was evident Lenny’s intentions were not for us to carry on his construction legacy, but that he wanted all his kids to build their own paths forward, knowing all too well the pains that come from a lifetime of building.
Lenny first and foremost enjoyed spending time with his family as his favorite thing to do. Outside of family, he loved hunting, fishing, planting gardens, seeing his in-laws, planting flowers, pickling his produce, making sauces and salsas, climbing ladders, golfing, joking with Kelly Grogan, cooking, picking wild berries, singing every chance he could, playing music all day long, helping every one of his kids and grandkids every chance he could. If you needed to borrow a tool or needed his help, he was right there to lend a hand.
Outside of his wife, Rosemary, Lenny’s greatest love were his grandkids, Brea Adams, Courtney Dillon, Hunter Dillon, Cody Dillon, Maxwell Adams, Sierra Adams, Ella Adams, Reese Adams, Shania Douma-Adams, Gabrielle Adams, and last, but not least, his little buddy Adrian Adams. The love he had for them could be seen from the look in his eyes and how he hugged them each time.
Lenny was also blessed with a daughter-in-law of over twenty-five years, Laura Adams, who he loved endlessly, taking her on blueberry finding adventures every time she came into town. He loved and appreciated Angie, Jessica, Shawna, Caitlin, and Rachel, and always made sure to let them know.
Lenny was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Adams; and his mother, Gertrude Joos.
A traditional ceremony was held at 191 Second St. St. Ignace, MI 47981, where tribal elders will help Lenny continue his journey home. He also wanted his ashes spread in the water, where he hunted, and in the near future some will be left at his memorial plot at Gros Cap Cemetery as well. All friends and family are welcome.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
