1931
Leonard
2013
Leonard Whelan
October 1, 1931 — April 6, 2013
10/01/1931 – 04/06/2013
Leonard Joseph Whelan, 81, died Saturday, April 6, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born October 1, 1931, to Joseph and Celina (Burke) Whelan in Bellingham. After graduating from Mt. Baker High School in 1949, Leonard joined the Marine Corps. He proudly fought in the Korean War, most notably in the battles of the Chosin Reservoir and the Inchon Landing. He was honored with several medals and citations for his service including the Korean Service Medal, U.N. Service Medal, Presidential Unit Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
After his service, he returned to Bellingham where he met and married Colleen June Tarr on January 7, 1955. He attended Western Washington State College while serving on the Bellingham police force. During the summers, he worked as a logger for his father-in-law Charley Tarr. In 1960 he was accepted to the United States Border Patrol Academy. After graduating in 1961, he and Colleen decided to settle in California where he left law enforcement and began a long career in heavy construction and truck driving. The family returned to Washington in 1967, and settled in Burien. Leonard retired from his final position of driving tanker trucks for Matlack Trucking in 1992. He had logged more than four million miles. Following his wife’s death, he moved to Henderson, Nevada to be nearer to his children.
Leonard enjoyed bluegrass and country music. He was a voracious reader and could most often be found with a book or magazine close at hand. He had a keen wit and an enormous sense of humor. He enjoyed telling stories and making people laugh. Most of all, he loved his family dearly.
He is survived by his three children: Joseph P. Whelan, of Henderson, NV; Kathlene A. Whelan of Brisbane, CA; and Karen A. Whelan of Las Vegas, NV; his brothers-in-law: William Tarr of Menlo Park, CA and Laurence “Nick” Nichols of Fremont, CA; his sister-in-law Carolyn (Tarr) Aiken of Seattle, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Colleen Whelan; his twin sister, Joan Pride; his younger sister, Eileen Nichols; and his nieces, Maureen Pride and Linda (Nichols) Riley.
Visitation will be held at Westford’s on Friday, April 12th from 6-8 PM. Funeral Service will be held at Westford’s on Saturday, April 13th at 11 AM. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at Bayview City Cemetery. A reception will follow at Westford’s Broadway Hall.
Leonard Joseph Whelan, 81, died Saturday, April 6, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born October 1, 1931, to Joseph and Celina (Burke) Whelan in Bellingham. After graduating from Mt. Baker High School in 1949, Leonard joined the Marine Corps. He proudly fought in the Korean War, most notably in the battles of the Chosin Reservoir and the Inchon Landing. He was honored with several medals and citations for his service including the Korean Service Medal, U.N. Service Medal, Presidential Unit Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
After his service, he returned to Bellingham where he met and married Colleen June Tarr on January 7, 1955. He attended Western Washington State College while serving on the Bellingham police force. During the summers, he worked as a logger for his father-in-law Charley Tarr. In 1960 he was accepted to the United States Border Patrol Academy. After graduating in 1961, he and Colleen decided to settle in California where he left law enforcement and began a long career in heavy construction and truck driving. The family returned to Washington in 1967, and settled in Burien. Leonard retired from his final position of driving tanker trucks for Matlack Trucking in 1992. He had logged more than four million miles. Following his wife’s death, he moved to Henderson, Nevada to be nearer to his children.
Leonard enjoyed bluegrass and country music. He was a voracious reader and could most often be found with a book or magazine close at hand. He had a keen wit and an enormous sense of humor. He enjoyed telling stories and making people laugh. Most of all, he loved his family dearly.
He is survived by his three children: Joseph P. Whelan, of Henderson, NV; Kathlene A. Whelan of Brisbane, CA; and Karen A. Whelan of Las Vegas, NV; his brothers-in-law: William Tarr of Menlo Park, CA and Laurence “Nick” Nichols of Fremont, CA; his sister-in-law Carolyn (Tarr) Aiken of Seattle, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Colleen Whelan; his twin sister, Joan Pride; his younger sister, Eileen Nichols; and his nieces, Maureen Pride and Linda (Nichols) Riley.
Visitation will be held at Westford’s on Friday, April 12th from 6-8 PM. Funeral Service will be held at Westford’s on Saturday, April 13th at 11 AM. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at Bayview City Cemetery. A reception will follow at Westford’s Broadway Hall.
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