Leonard Joseph Jesse was born May 11, Mothers Day, 1952. The son of Fred and Loretta, and the youngest of three boys, he was a precocious child and a too-clever adolescent.
He joined the Navy and saw most of the world. When he was out he married and had one son, Nathan Paul, who survives him.
He worked for companies like Caterpillar, Komatsu, and IBM, continuing to see more of the world, traveling often. What always brought him home was family. In retirement he enjoyed colors in the fall, seeing movies with his son, and fervently followed Notre Dame and the Cubs. A proud disabled vet, he spoke of his time fondly, and often. Leonard died August 31, 2026, suddenly. He will be mourned deeply by his remaining family, and remembered by many for his positivity and wonderful generosity of spirit that all who knew him enjoyed. "No man is a failure who has friends," and in that he was the richest man on Earth.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, September 11, 2026, at Mary Mother of Mercy Catholic Parish - Notre Dame Campus, 1010 Moore Rd., Long Beach, IN. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN, and from 10:00 am - 11:00 am on Friday at the church.
Contributions may be made to charity of the donor's choice.
To sign a guest book and leave condolences online, visit our website at
www.otthaverstock.com.
