larry albert leek
March 10, 1943 - October 14, 2012
salem - larry albert leek passed away Sunday from a long term illness. Larry was born in oak park, illinois, the son of willis charles leek and avonelle maureen (johnson) leek. He spent his childhood on his family's farm in iowa, and then in blooming prairie, minnesota. They moved away from the farm in 1952 moving to salem, oregon.
Larry began working with his father during his summer breaks of high school at kreitzberg aviation in salem. He worked on many wwii aircraft including b-17s, and grumman f7f tigercats converting them into borate bombers for fighting forest fires. This was the beginning of his lifelong love of antique airplanes. Larry graduated from north salem high school in 1961, and attended oregon institute of technology in klamath falls, oregon.
Kreitzberg aviation became mircroflect company, and larry became the second employee, with his father being the first employee. He then started a 38 year career with the company where he started out fabricating and building passive microwave repeaters, and microwave towers. After they were fabricated, he would also go out and install them as well, which took him all over the country, including canada, and alaska. Larry was known for his mechanical ability to fix anything. This led him into the maintenance department where he fabricated parts for broken machinery and helped develop tower components. He loved his career with microflect and continued to speak of it, and keep in contact with his friends there. After leaving microflect, larry went to work for river city machine where he continued to repair equipment and use his talent as a machinist.
Larry was, first and foremost, an "old car guy". He bought his first car for $5 when he was 12 years old, and continued to collect antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tractors his entire life. Larry always liked different vehicles and collected the "orphan" brands such as: studebakers, packards, auburns, amc, and kaizers. He was also a founding member of the northwest vintage car and mortocycle museum in brooks, oregon. Larry also volunteered at antique powerland and the "great oregon steam up" for over 30 years. He was a member of many different car clubs.
Larry is survived by his wife linda, sons, randy leek (kimberly), zane (carol) four step grandchildren, paul, shane,troy, and allison miller, and by his brother roger leek. He will also be missed by the hundreds of friends that he has made over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to: northwest vintage car and motorcycle museum in brooks, oregon, p.o. Box 15, salem, oregon 97308-0015.
Visitation will be Friday from 2pm - 4 pm at virgil t. Golden funeral service with services Saturday at 10:00am also at virgil t. Golden funeral service. A celebration of larry's life will be held at the nwvcmm building at antique powerland on brooklake rd. After the interment. Friends and family attending the funeral service are encouraged to drive their antique vehicles.
