Obituary - Leonard John Muggee
August 22, 2020
Leonard John Muggee was born on November 20, 1935 in Los Angeles, California.
Leonard lived in Eagle Rock, a suburb of Los Angeles until he left home to go to school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He studied Landscape Architect until the Army called him to serve in the Korean War in 1954. Since he had a year of college, he was sent to work in the accounting office in the South Pacific. He enjoyed many adventures away from home as a young man in the South Pacific and learned that he was a very good accountant. When he returned to the States in 1956, Leonard stayed a little closer to home and studied accounting at USC. For the rest of his life he would follow the USC Trojans, rarely missing a game! He especially enjoyed going to their Homecoming Game almost every year with some of this old college pals!!
In 1960 he married Lydia Ansisna from his home town – practically the girl next door! He and Lydia had two children, Lorraine Jean and George Fred. Leonard worked many years as a CPA for Texaco and Standard Oil. They lived in La Crescenta and La Canada, CA. Everyone remembers the wonderful camping trips up to Mineral King and Huntington Lake in California and the many fishing, boating and water skiing adventures. Leonard and Lydia were among the original "flipper" purchasing "fixer upper homes." His children, Lorraine and George, remember there were always home improvement projects to keep them busy. Lydia and Leonard divorced in 1979.
In 1982, Leonard married Sondra Platte, also of Los Angeles. They divorced in 1984, but remained partners and friends for the rest of his life. They also enjoyed many fishing and camping trips both locally and in Wyoming. Leonard’s oil company years had given him the opportunity to visit Pinedale, Wyoming often. That area always stayed in his heart as Paradise on Earth! When daughter Lori and her family decided to move to Laramie, Wyoming in 2001, Leonard and Sondra were not far behind. They bought a vacation home in Big Piney, Wyoming in 2001 and owned it for the rest of Leonard’s life. That was always Leonard’s "happy place." He took great pride in tending to his lush and beautiful yard. Often his flowers, both Delphiniums and Columbines. took prizes at the local county fair.
All the while Leonard maintained a successful CPA practice in Pasadena, CA – working up to July 15th, 2020!! Many of his clients had been with him over 40+ years. He loved them all and considered them his family. His work brought him great joy!
Leonard enjoyed all the visits by his daughter and grandchildren – Gwen, Garrett and Grace Kirk, as well as his son-in-law, Garth Kirk. Most Father’s Days his daughter, Lori, would bring flats of plants from the Laramie Garden Club and plant these mystery flowers in the numerous planters around his Big Piney, Wyoming yard. It was always exciting to see what would soon bloom!
Leonard loved to fish and took delight in teaching his grandchildren how to fish and showing them his favorite, secret spots! "God grant that I may fish until my dying day. And when it comes to my last cast, I then most humbly pray, "When in God’s safe landing net, I am peacefully asleep, that in His mercy I be judged as good enough to keep."
Leonard died peacefully in his sleep on August 10, 2020. He died as he lived with a certain understanding of who he was and what his possibilities and limitations were. His 40+ years of sobriety also enabled him to face death in a way all of us wish we could. He did it with great courage and dignity.
Leonard is survived by his children Lorraine Jean Kirk and George Fred Muggee (nee Laurie), grandchildren HM3 (FMF) Gwen Leah Kirk, Garrett Leonard Kirk (nee Molly), Grace Lucille Kirk, Lydia Muggee Winkler, Sondra Platte Muggee and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
A YouTube video and/or a ZOOM meeting will be held in the coming months in lieu of a funeral. Please watch for it and feel free to post any comments or stories about Leonard that were especially poignant to you.
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