Leon W. Dake

WAUKESHA - Leon W. Dake of Waukesha passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019 surrounded by the love of his family at age 92. He was born in Iowa on May 23, 1927 the son of Leonard and Stella (nee Lyons) Dake. Leon proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was a member of the American Legion Post 427. On November 2, 1946 he married his sweetheart and lifelong companion, Elaine (Sprague) Dake; she preceded him in death after 70 years of marriage on April 11, 2017. He graduated from MATC in 1958 and began a lifelong career in engineering. Leon worked for 42 years for Harnischfeger in the International Engineering Department, a career he loved to talk about and allowed him to travel the world. He was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Waukesha where he served as a catechist and was active in many ways over the years. Leon was an avid reader, loved all sports, was a huge Green Bay Packers fan, was a history buff and family historian. He was a very intelligent man with incredible strength, was deeply committed, always sincere, had a fantastic memory, loved to give advice and could sit down and have a conversation with anyone. His greatest joy and love in life was his family and he was happiest when they were all together.

He is loved and will be deeply missed by his seven children, Kathleen (Ken) Schultz of Houston, TX, Jonathan (Annette) Dake of Menomonee Falls, Sandra (the late William) Pirc of Milwaukee, Michael (Debbie) Dake of Waukesha, Pamela (Al) Perry of Roy, UT, Lawrence (Jane) Dake of Pewaukee and Marla (Tim) Allen of Janesville. He was the proud grandfather of 20 grandchildren, Dawn (Kenny) White, Tracy Moody, Lee (Leah) Dake, Andrew (Maria) Dake, Philip (Candace) Dake, Joseph, Daniel, Timothy and Jeremy Pirc, Christopher (fiancée Sarah) Farr, Karry Hassemer, Kendra Pierce, Steven and Michael Perry, David (Kim) Perry, Staci (Tom) Dabson, Anthony (Jaymi) Dake, Matthew Dake, and Zachary and Bradley Allen, 22 great-grandchildren, Casey (Brittney) Rodgers, Krista (Daniel) Ferreyra, Kenny White, Kylie and Maddie Dake, Isabella, Laila and Sofia Toro- Dake, Philip Joel "PJ" Dake, Alana Kudick, Timothy "TJ", Mary, Dwayne Pirc, Angel Stanley, Destiny and Chevy Hassemer, Audrey (Matt) Marshall, Isaac Pierce, Yoshio, Yutaka and Keiuki Ryujin, Payton Dake and Baby Dabson on the way and eight great-great-grandchildren, Elena and Emilia Ferreyra, August Rodgers, Zaya and Athena Stanley, Auri and Elie Marshall and Jocelyn Hassemer. He is further survived by his sister, Judith (Ronald) Ellsbury, brothers, Thomas (Linda) Dake and Jim “Bud” Dake, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his wife Elaine and his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers John “Jack” Dake and Lawrence Dake and his stepmother Mary (nee Beard) Dake.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 30, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until time of the 1:00 p.m. funeral Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186. Father Chuck Wrobel will preside.