Naples, Fla. —
Leslie was a Lifetime member of the Masons, Shriners, VFW and Elks Club all of which he was extremely proud of.
Les leaves behind his soulmate of 77 years, Mary, his ‘Sweetheart’, and daughters, Nancy Jenks Brown, Realtor of Naples, and Donna Jenks Wright, Museum Guide, of Cross Creek, Fla., sister-in-law Bernice Jenks of Ocala, Fla., and seven grandchildren, Johnnie Brown (deceased), Debbie Johnson of Bailey Island, Maine, Shawn Brown of Petersburg, Va., (Mary) Patricia Jenks of Naples, Shane Brown of Orlando, Fla., Chris Devins of Cross Creek, and Patrick Devins of Mooresville, N.C., 14 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren!
Leslie, (Papa) leaves an incredible Life and Legacy for all those fortunate enough to have known him these many, many years.
Leslie served in the US Navy aboard the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. Salt Lake City during WWII in the Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1946! His ship was 200 miles off Wake Island at the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor! His ship was immediately called upon to help with search and rescue effort! Then to ‘seek revenge for the sinking of the U.S.S. Utah!’ His ship had the ‘unofficial distinction’ of having taken part in more engagements in Admiral Halsey’s fleet than any other ship in the Navy in WWII! His devotion to his Country was intense for 75 years of his life. Everyone who knew Les never saw him without his prized WWII cap! He was a Patriot to the end! A very Proud American!
Leslie dedicated the rest of his life to his wife, Mary and their three children, Nan, Dagma, and Skip, and himself to becoming a respected Engineer/Tool and Diemaker. Mary and he owned and operated Jenks Machine and Tool Company in Lebanon, N.H., for 35 years. You could find Les at the World Fairs, Bay of Fundy, on a trip to Montreal, boating up his beloved Connecticut River on his ‘Barge’, or on any golf course with friends or family! At the age of 58 he and Mary retired to Florida’s Sunshine where he continued to have many more adventures for the next 37 years!!!
His intense love, devotion, compassion and generosity for his family and friends spanned decades and was extraordinary! He shared his many skills in carpentry with many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His joy for traveling, cruising, building incredible projects for his family were highlights in his retirement! Les’s last years were consumed with enjoying life to the maximum with Mary especially watching his grandchildren grow and develop and excel into fine young men and women with families of their own! He was so very proud of them all!
His only regret would have been not holding his last five great-great-grandchildren born these past 6 months!! Great-great-gramma Mary at 93 will do the hugging for them both!!
Rest in Peace, Dad, Papa and Friend. Life lived Well! Thanks for the Legacy and the Memories! God Bless!! As Papa said daily, “Isn’t this a beautiful day!”