LeRoy N. Klingman, a lifelong resident of Anacortes, Washington, passed away peacefully at Island Hospital on September 16, 2026, at the age of 94. Born in Anacortes on April 4, 1932, to Darold and Katherine Klingman, LeRoy’s long life spanned nearly a century of profound global changes, local history, and dedicated service.

Born during the depths of the Great Depression, LeRoy grew up witnessing the resilience of his hometown during lean times. He attended Anacortes High School, and by the late 1940s, as the Pacific Northwest boomed in the post-WWII era, he found adventure on the waters of the Pacific Northwest as a tugboat deckhand in Puget Sound.

When geopolitical tensions rose across the globe, LeRoy answered the call to serve his country, joining the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. His time in the service instilled a deep sense of duty that stayed with him throughout his life.

Returning home to a rapidly developing Washington state, LeRoy became an active part of the local business landscape. He worked for A&P Van Lines Moving Co. before becoming an entrepreneur, owning and operating Anacortes Furniture on 5th Street. Later, during the regional industrial boom of the mid-20th century, he began working at the Texaco Refinery. He dedicated 23 years there as a boiler house operator before enjoying a well-deserved, 35-year retirement starting in the early 1990s.

LeRoy was a true Renaissance man of his generation. He possessed an incredible knack for working with his hands and was highly skilled at carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and auto repair. There was truly nothing he couldn't fix or build once he put his mind to it. Outside of his work, he loved spending time in the great outdoors, working in his yard, and enjoying rounds of golf on local courses.

LeRoy’s legacy lives on through his longtime companion, Dianne Flores; his three sons, Patrick L. Klingman, Garry R. Klingman, and Andrew E. Klingman; as well as 13 grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Grand View Cemetery in Anacortes, WA, where LeRoy was laid to rest in the community he loved and called home for 94 years.