Leonard N. Chandler

Leonard N. Chandler

(October 24, 1941 – December 2, 2021)

Leonard Nathaniel Chandler, 80, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 10:29 a.m. Thursday, December 2, 2021 in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL, with his family by his side.

Private family services will be held next spring. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Wounded Warrior Project and mailed to Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 North Broadway, Shelbyville, IL, 62565.

Leonard was born on October 24, 1941, in Harpersfield, NY, the son of Leonard and Helleen (Woolsey) Chandler. He graduated from New Berlin High School in New York and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Leonard worked as an ironworker for many years until his retirement. Leonard married Cathy Cinert on October 4, 1991. He then started a business as a vintage home restoration contractor, specializing in homes built before 1900 in the Fox Valley region of Illinois. He received numerous awards for his work from the cities of St. Charles and Geneva. He was an active board member of the St. Charles Preservation Commission and a member of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. He enjoyed reading and watching stories of the old west, and fishing with his family as much as possible. Since 2008, Leonard was able to expand his 45-years as a beekeeper on the farm in Shelbyville, IL, he shared with his wife of 30 years, Cathy.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Cathy Chandler; children, Jamie Chandler of Phoenix, AZ, June Chandler of Phoenix, AZ, Jeffery Chandler (Fatima) of St. Charles, IL, Jennifer Garcia (Moises) of DeKalb, IL, Joy  Chandler of Charlotte, NC, Joel Chandler of Shelbyville, IL; their mother Ardith Hall of DeKalb, IL; Drew Cinert (Suzanne) of Loveland, CO, Camille Fogle (William) of Hillsboro, IL, and Carrie Smith (Todd) of Williams Bay, WI; brothers, George Chandler (Nancy) of Fly Creek, NY, and Henry Goldman (Anne) of Limestone, TN; 21 grandchildren, Rachel, Kaitlyn, Alex, Darrien, Amber, Brandon, Ashlee, Elizabeth, Kevin, Megan, Devon, Xander, Alan, Kimberly, Brenda, James, Chandler, Ricky, Raymond, Amber,  and Trevor; 12 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Chandler; mother, Helleen S. Frank; sister, Lenora Bottoms; brother-in-law, Leroy Hendricks; and two nieces, Carrie Chandler and Yvonne Colby.