Leonard James Needham

November 10th, 1929 - November 4th, 2016

Leonard's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Leonard here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

I have just read the life of Jesus and my conclusion is that Jesus is a verb, not a noun because his God like acts were always rooted in love.

Upon reflections I have many images of love being delivered within and by the Needham family.

For my generation it began with Ant Ethel and her son Junior who provided home and meals and a foundation for many of us on the Iowa farm, time and time again.

My first perception of the magnitude of these gifts was an event; why was Junor so happy that he was shaving for the first time this week etc? And the answer I found out was that Lenny and Jeanny were taking him out to dinner, (off the farm); Needham love going into the next generation.

My father died as I started high school and that left mother and I to go forward. And forward we were able to go with the repeated support of the Needham family; give Tiny a break from the Jesuit reformatory for a day or two.

Love to all and the Needham family especially, Tiny or Mr. Ed or N9VTU on the radio.

edmund j burckart

Sending love and sincere sympathy to our wonderful Michigan family. I regret that David and I are not able to be with you all on Saturday to celebrate Uncle Lenny’s life. I will be forever grateful that I was able to have that nice chat with him when we were there in September. He was completely alert and flashing that signature smile while asking about other family members, etc. For that brief period, it was as if he wasn’t sick at all. It was a beautiful gift that I will always remember.
I’ve included this poem by Henry Van Dyke that I came across, quite by “accident” and shared with family members as we waited for our Dear brother, Deano to escape his earthly shackles and fly, free to embrace the peace that had eluded him for so long.
This particular verse really hit home with me and brought me a sense of peace like no other, before or since. I pass it on to all of you in hopes it will bring you some measure of comfort, as well.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...

Leonard James Needham

Leonard's Memory Wall

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