Alan Leonard

Alan Roy Leonard, age 73 years of Pickford, Michigan; father, grandfather, brother, companion, sworn corrections officer, mechanic, and proud American died unexpectedly, but of natural causes, fittingly on the Fourth of July, 2026 while performing some maintenance at his winter home in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia. His family is grateful for the competent and compassionate efforts of the first responders – local emergency medics and fellow sworn officers.

He was born on July 11, 1952 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Francis Jay and Carol Jean (Barnes) Leonard, and graduated from high school in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He continued his education in trade school to become certified as an Automotive Technician, and later completed the course of study required for certification as a State Corrections Officer after moving east to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was employed as a mechanic at Tri County Motors in Rudyard, Michigan, and was later employed as a Corrections Officer at the Kinross Correctional Facility on the grounds of the former Kincheloe U.S.Air Force Base. He served at the prison for twenty-four years, and retired from that position.

“Big Al” was an avid reader, enjoying the American novelist Dean Koontz, and contemporary conservative political opinions. He studied the genealogy of his Irish family, extending to several generations. He also studied antiques, and enjoyed attending shows displaying antiques.

His interest and proficiency in auto mechanics carried from Tri County Motors to setting-up a repair shop at home to work on his own equipment, including a few cars from the post-WWII era, and he was known to drag race as a young man. Always working with his hands, he learned woodworking, becoming capable of home repair, including the fine points of interior trim installation, skills which he was pleased to share with his children as they became homeowners – but only when that generation was willing to work alongside him . . . and learn those skills. His home shop was neat and well organized, bringing him joy even in retirement, tinkering on various projects.

During his employment at the penitentiary, he mounted a campaign to ban cigarette smoking from the facility. Outside of work, he volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and after retirement, volunteered as a driver for non-emergency medical appointment transportation, often taking patients across the bridge to clinics in Petosky and other lower peninsula destinations.

Outside of all these interests, he kept a daily exercise regimen which included long walks in-season, and cross-country skiing in the looooong winter season. He listened to the radio hits music of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, knowing all of the bands and artists, and collected baseball cards. He was a fan of the Minnesota Viking football team, the Minnesota Twins baseball team, and the Lake Superior State University Men’s Hockey team, often treating his children to a Pizza Hut thin & crispy meat lovers pizza before attending a Laker hockey game.

He had a great affection for his pet dogs, especially German Shepherds, but his favorite was “Lady”, and a non-distinct mutt named “Toby”. He was a regular fan at the athletic events of his children, and volunteered to referee their volleyball games – officially, not just a loud parent in the stands. He continued to volunteer after his children were done playing.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, and by his younger sister, Peggy Shahan who died on February 23, 2016.

Surviving family includes his children, Amy (& Joseph) Calcaterra of Hessel, Michigan, Nina (& Micah) Rutz of Lowell, Michigan, Ira (& Tami) Nederhoed of Post Falls, Idaho, Cindi (& Matt) Belcher of Stevensville, Michigan, and Kelly (& Sebastian) Bunster of Bonney Lake, Washington; grandchildren – to whom he was Grandpa Up-North - are Lillian (& Matt) Lindman, Tristan (& Meghan) Calcaterra, Daniel Calcaterra, Devan, Izabel, Zahna, and Graham Rutz, Braden (& Autumn) Nederhoed, Owen, and Ashlyn Nederhoed, Marissa, the twins Ezra and Elise, and Ivan Belcher, and Mallory, Carter, Leo, and Amelia Bunster; great-grandchildren, Harper, Cohen, and Eden; Alan’s sister, Barbara Braeden of Salt Lake City, Utah; nieces and nephews, Scott and Derek Braeden, Brett Condon, and Jayson and Trevor Shahan. Also surviving is the mother of Alan’s children, to whom he was married for twenty-six years, Lorraine Leonard of Kinross, Michigan; and Alan’s companion for several years, Nancy Leroque, who will miss him dearly.

The family of Alan Leonard will gather at a later date in the Upper Peninsula to share memories and honor his life. Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Memories and condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Alan clearly enjoyed life, always looking for the next skill to learn, reading the current political events, exercising daily, and working right up to the moment of his death, just one-week short of his 74th birthday. More important were the people in his life, championing better health in the prison community, volunteering for youth through BB/BS and adults by providing transportation. He was always looking for his next adventure!