Obituaries for February 19, 2009

Leon John Monpas, 89, of Baker City, died Feb. 14, 2009, at his home.

Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Associate Pastor Jesse Whitford of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate.

Leon was born on May 31, 1919, at Jim Falls, Wis., to Charles and Sarah Ward Monpas. He received his schooling in a one-room schoolhouse at Jim Falls, Wis. He had to quit school in the eighth grade to help his mother with the farm, although his three older brothers had the opportunity to finish their schooling.

His first job, besides the farm, was at Wissota Sand & Gravel in 1937. He enjoyed working for the company and told many stories about the crushers, the old engines, digging test holes by hand and a litany of other happenings. This past year he made contact with the owners and discussed old memories with the grandson, who now runs the business.

Leon married Leona Lunderville in Milwaukee, Wis., on April 8, 1938. He realized he needed a skill trade, so he enrolled in welding school in 1940 and earned his welding certificate.

He and Leona moved to Port Angeles, Wash., in 1941 where he took a job at Crown Zellerbach paper mill for 35 cents an hour. Leon applied for the job wearing slacks and nice clothes. He was hired and went to work that day in the sawmill. 

Three months later a supervisor asked him why he wasn’t working in Crown’s welding shop. Leon said he had a family to support and needed work. He was sent to the welding shop and stayed with Crown Zellerbach until 1966 when he transferred to their new mill at Wauna. He retired in 1978 as a triple J welder/machinist.

Being very ambitious and active, Leon bought a tax sale house and remodeled it from top to bottom for speculative purposes. He also started a restoration business and traveled throughout 47 states.

He loved dancing, fishing, hunting, flea markets and playing cards. One of his favorite sayings was “I don’t buy anything I can build and I can build almost anything.” No task was too big or too small.

It was always his desire to live in Eastern Oregon and he finally persuaded Leona to move closer to their family in 2001. He dearly loved living in Baker City working in his shop, going to auctions, and making new friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Leona; his father and mother, four brothers and one grandson.

Surviviors include his son, Charles “Chuck” Monpas, and his wife, Lois, of Baker City; daughter, Diane Wilkins, and her husband, Dale, of Gig Harbor, Wash.; grandchildren, Craig Monpas of Canby, Kent Monpas and his wife, Kara, and Lloyd Monpas, all of Casper, Wyo., Darrel Wilkins and his wife, Micky of Auburn, Wash., Diana Spak and her husband, Pat, of Woodinvil, Wash., Xandra Van Cleave of Baker City, and Kurtis Monpas of Boise, Idaho; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons, and a sister, Audrey, of Milwaukee, Wis.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Lutheran Hour or Heart ‘n’ Home Hospice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR  97814.