Thomas "Tom" Wilfred Leaper, Jr.

Thomas “Tom” Wilfred Leaper, Jr. was born in Waukegan, IL to Marion (Conklin) and Thomas Leaper, Sr. on November 6, 1960. Tom passed away in Bemidji Sanford Hospital on October 14, 2023.

Tom grew up in Fox Lake Illinois. He moved up to the Hackensack area with his mom and stepdad when he was a teenager. His mom died unexpectedly shortly after he started attending Walker High School. Not wanting to go back to Illinois he set out to live on his own. Eventually, the Lord blessed him with wonderful Foster parents Bill and Betty Green of Hackensack, MN. They were a very big part of his life. After high school, he worked in various trades where he learned many skills, but settled on being an electrician, which is something he had been interested in since high school. He eventually earned his journeyman’s degree and after a few years his Masters degree and started his own business. He was known for doing very high quality work and took a lot of pride in that. Many people would say that no one does electrical work as well as Tom.

Tom loved nature very much. He spent a lot of time fishing and hunting in his younger years. He didn’t do much later on, but certainly never lost the love of it. His love shifted to family. His greatest pride and joy in life was his son and grand kids. He was also very blessed to have reconnected with Carol and spent the next 10 years sharing their love for each other and their families. Most of his time you’d find him mowing lawns, plowing snow, and repairing things for family, friends and strangers and not accepting anything in return. He would even sneak over to people’s houses to do chores while they were gone so they didn’t know who it was. There are no words adequate enough to portray his generosity and love for others.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Sr. and Marion, stepbrother, Butch Hanson; and foster parents, Bill and Betty Green.

He is survived by the love of his life, Carol Longfellow, his former wife, Diane Leaper; son, Tommy (Stefanie) Leaper III, of Laporte, stepdaughters, Jennifer (Joe) Nagel, Sarah (Kevin) Holloway, Melissa Tibbetts, Tricia (Derek) Port, Cassie (Tyler) Tryon, brothers, John Hendrixson, Paul Hendrixson, and David Hendrixson; sister, Bunny Baczynski of Fox Lake, IL, step sister Lynn Hanson Johnson, foster siblings, Lisa (Brian) Vanvickle, Jeff Green, and grandchildren, Everett, Vera, Ivan, and Jack.

A Celebration of life for Tom will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday October 21, 2023 at Laporte Community Church, Laporte, MN. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Pastor Rick Clyde will officiate. Urn bearer for Tom will be Thomas Leaper III. All are invited to share bars and coffee after the service.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials preferred or donation to a charity of your choice.

Tom’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

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