Obituary: Leonard Lawrence Obeidzinski
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Leonard Lawrence Obeidzinski, 94, of Carlton passed away March 8, 2023, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. Leonard was born Jan. 1, 1929, and grew up in Cloquet. At age 15 he began working for his brother-in-law, Harry Andrews, delivering groceries for Jack Andrews' grocery store. He could drive the delivery truck only three times a week because of the gas rationing during World War II, so the rest of the week he delivered groceries via horse and buggy. At age 16, also because of the war, he was hired on full-time at Northwest Paper. He was an electrician for Northwest Paper, later Potlatch Corp., for 46 years, and was a member of the Quarter Century Club. Leonard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1949 during peacetime, and less than one year later the Korean War broke out. He served on the cruiser USS Saint Paul, under the command of Adm. John S. McCain Sr. After serving three years in the Marines, he was sent for drill instructor training and served as a drill sergeant on Parris Island, South Carolina until he was discharged in 1953. During his tenure, he graduated three platoons of recruits, two with high honors status. Leonard was a 60-year resident of Carlton and was a member of the Carlton VFW. He also served as a member of the Cloquet Legion
Honor Guard for several years after he was discharged from the service. Leonard's hobbies included hunting, fishing, tending to his flower gardens in his earlier years, and watching the birds from his many birdfeeders. He was a doting pet parent to the six dachshunds he raised
over the years. Leonard also was a very good cook, and nothing put a smile on his face more than everyone enjoying a meal he prepared, or eating homecooked meals created by others. Food was love, and it showed. Among Leonard's many accomplishments, the most important
was being a loving husband to his wife and a good dad to his kids. He will be remembered for having a zest for life and a quick wit. Special thanks to longtime friends and neighbors Rick and Lee Manty, Jay Grover and Dave Douglas. Your friendship and kindness were very appreciated by Leonard and his family, especially in the last few years. Thanks also to the wonderful staff at
Diamond Willow for the care and compassion. In honor of Leonard, thank a veteran, and crack a
joke to lighten someone's day.
Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Ron Ostrander, Traverse City, Michigan; sons, Gary of Cloquet and Bryan of Bonita Springs, Florida; sister and brother-in-law, Ramona and Frank Richter, Plymouth; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dirk and Diane Carlson, Saginaw; special niece, Karen Obeidzinski, Cloquet; special nephew and lifelong friend, Tom Obeidzinski, Cloquet; many nieces and nephews; and his pet dachshund, Bear. Leonard was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Gloria (Carlson), in 2003; his parents, Joseph and Helen (Bahen); brothers John, Frank, Anthony (Jenski) and Joe; sisters Mary, Josephine Andrews, Eleanore Dietrich, Helen Swanson and Frances Minkkinen; and special friend, Ann "Betty" Hebert.
Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Friday, April 28 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. A luncheon will follow the service at the funeral home. Burial will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis at a later date.
Arrangements are entrusted with Nelson Funeral Care of Cloquet. To sign an online registry
please visit http://www.nelsonfuneralcare.net.
