Leo C. Lundgren

LEO CHARLES LUNDGREN was born on March 1, 1928, in Steubenville, Ohio. He was the fifth of six children of Rudolf and Victoria (nee Sinkele) Lundgren. As a small boy his parents divorced and all six children were sent to live in an orphanage complex in Xenia, Ohio - The Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphanage. The OSSO Home was created after the Civil War for children of soldiers, and continued until the beginning of this century. All the fellow orphans were as family to Leo and Virginia and they would gather with the other 'ex-pupils' every year as a reunion weekend always on the Fourth of July weekend.

Leo bussed out to California after he graduated High School in 1946 and joined the Navy. He became their ship fitter and helped decommission the S.S. Adams in California. He also spent months on Bikini Atoll preparing the island for nuclear testing. Leo is considered a WWII Vet as he was tasked in WWII operations. Leo took a Freedom Flight to Washington D.C. which was a highlight for him. 

Leo met his wife of 72 years, Virginia, when he moved to Youngstown to share a home with his oldest brother, Victor. The brothers were painting their house when Virginia and her girlfriends rode by on their bicycles. Leo convinced Virginia to help them paint. She did and they married June 16, 1951. They have been inseparable ever since.

Leo was a jokester and loved to make people laugh. He was a genius at assessing and repairing all things, cars, house anything that needed repair he could do it. Leo started a furnace business in Xenia where 4 of their five children were born. He moved his family of five kids to Waverly, and eventually settled in Chillicothe in 1964. In addition to his furnace company where he made the ducts and installed the furnaces, he was excellent in sales of insurance and Amway, feeding his family of seven with enthusiastic building of the company. Virginia was always by Leo's side as his biggest supporter. One of his big Amway gigs was at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, but weekly meetings and an Amway product 'store' was in our home on High Street. 

In 1985, Leo and Virginia began a huge adventure. His new job took him across the country to many states to help secure land leases to build cell towers or install fiber optic cable. In 2000, at age 72, Leo retired. They both loved the desert so much they bought a second home in Laughlin, NV and to buy a house in Mansfield, Ohio, for the summer months. They continued cross country driving to their two homes until Leo lost much of his eyesight. In 2020, they were able to live on the OSSO property in Xenia in a new Independent Living apartment. They really enjoyed being 'back at the home'. In 2021 they moved into Assisted Living in Cincinnati to be closer to family.

Leo is survived by his wife of 72 years, Virginia Lee (nee Davis) Lundgren, by three of their 5 children, Joy Lynn Reed, recently married to Larry Cupernell, Gail Ann Lundgren, Dean Leo Lundgren (Ann). He is also survived by grandchildren; Lyndi Malone, Kim Doze, Scott Lundgren, Seth (Sally) Lundgren, Todd Lundgren, Ryan (Suzie) Reed, Alex (Stephanie) Lundgren, Tamra (Lucas) Rovie and T.J., Tom, and Nate, Ann's children. Leo is survived by over 20 great grandchildren and by many nieces and nephews in many different states. 

Leo is preceded in death by their daughter, Jill Elaine Lundgren at age 16, their son Glen Leroy Lundgren at age 62, Glen's son Eric at age 32. and Son-in-law, Gary Reed. Leo is preceded in death by all of his five siblings.

Leo will receive Military Funeral Honors at Gilligan Funeral Home on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 1:30pm – 8225 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati OH 45236.

Leo will be laid to rest at 1:00pm in Springbank Cemetery in Chillicothe on Saturday, October 7th.  23888 State Route 104 Chillicothe OH 45601.

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