Leonard Edward Clapp

AuTrain

Leonard “Len” Clapp, age 70, of AuTrain, died Monday morning, August 7, 2017 at his home in AuTrain under the loving care of his family and Lake Superior Hospice.  He was born on December 23, 1946 in Marquette, Michigan to the late Julius and Aili (Oja) Clapp.  His family moved to California and then as a young child moved back to Marquette and then to the family home in AuTrain where they owned the Restwood Resort.  Len graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1966.  He married Ann Marie McCollum on October 22, 1966.  Len served in the U.S. Air Force at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas from February1967 until April 1971.  They returned home after his service and Len worked for Cyr Gas Company in Marquette then Munising, as mechanic for Steve Glyptis in Munising, Richmond Oil Company in Chatham, and then Norman Oil in Chatham.  He was proud of his semi driving license status with the state of Michigan.  Len had over one million safe miles and had the highest Hazmat license in the State.

In 1976, Len and Ann were integral participants in raising the monies and the building of the AuTrain Fire Department and Hall.  Len served as Hall Captain and was on the roster over forty-one years.  In 1985, they purchased Bob’s Grocery in AuTrain and have owned and operated A and L Grocery ever since.  Len would work the night shift hauling Hazmat materials and then come home to make sure the maintenance and chores were done at the store before he caught some sleep.  He and Ann would take some time off from the store during the year and enjoyed traveling in their fifth wheel.  Len was the phantom snow plower in AuTrain when people needed help and he could fix anything.  He and Amber became certified in SCUBA when she was only twelve and he loved water skiing as a kid.  Len was fascinated with Sci-Fi and UFO’s.  He enjoyed weekends off riding dirt bikes or his dune buggy through the back roads and enjoyed riding his motorcycle.  Len was helpful, kind, and grateful, and he loved being a Hockey Grandpa.

Len is survived by his wife of over fifty years – Ann Clapp of AuTrain; their daughter and son-in-law – Amber and Dan Weathers of Wetmore; grandchildren – Jonas and Aili Denman; brothers – Kenneth Clapp of AuTrain and John Clapp of AuTrain; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law – Connie (Jeff) Moore, Judy (Bill) Rautanen, Mary (Mark) Doolittle, and Kris (Sam) Hardee; numerous nieces and one nephew.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law – Tom McCollum and Mark McCollum.

A celebration of Len’s life will take place at the AuTrain Township Hall in AuTrain on Saturday, August 12, 2017 beginning with Military Honors at 3:00 p.m.