Leroy (Lee) R. Kantola, Sr.
January 6, 1939 — August 27, 2024
Leroy (Lee) R Kantola Sr. age 85, born 1/6/39 in Red Lake Falls Minn., went to be with His Lord and Savior on 8/27/2024, at home in Salem, OR
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2022, and passed away from the many complications of the disease.
Lee leaves behind his wife Ronelle and four children: Erin, Bob, Kimberley and David, as well as two siblings, Arne Kantola Sr., and Joanne Rush.
Living in Northern California in his teens and after high school he moved to the bay area to work as an aircraft mechanic.
Moving back North a few years later, he married and had two children, Erin and Bob; another marriage gave him his youngest daughter, Kim.
For 17 yrs. he was a Teamster truck driver in the moving industry, and then changed occupations to become a residential and commercial carpenter, framer, remodeler, builder, and building superintendent,
working for others as well as for himself until his retirement in 2022.
After another failed marriage In the mid 70's Lee experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity. In 1977, he married Ronelle, both were new Christians.
During the eighties Lee and Ronelle spent five years in Alaska, building homes and multi family housing.
A life-changing experience, they found this to be a very challenging and fulfilling mission field until returning home to Salem, OR in 1985.
After retirement and sprucing up their home, Lee spent almost every day working in his shop doing woodworking from building furniture, to creating beautiful wooden boxes, museum quality wooden vehicles and toys for children.
Always able to design and build almost anything as well as fix everything that was broken or about to be, he was your guy.
During the last few years of his life he and Ronelle spent a wonderful time with MUSIC BOX ANGELS (a nonprofit ministering to those in need) building music boxes of beautiful finished wood, with at least 100 going
to our Veterans and even to our first responders including police dogs lost in action. Indeed, he finished well.
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