LEONARD D. GEHRE March 26, 1935 – Aug. 8, 2023
Leonard D. Gehre (Jack), 88 years old, passed away Aug. 8, 2023.
Jack was born in Kearney, NE, March 26, 1935. He graduated from Gibbon High School. He went on to Kearney State and studied there for a couple of years. He then joined the Army Band and played the French horn in 1957. Most of his duty was in Germany. He returned to Kearney State and received his Degree in Mathematics in December of 1959. He later attended several colleges and finished his master’s degree from Portales, NM.
Jack was at a dance and ran into Julia N. Denning. He had remembered her as the girl who had lived across the street from them when they were younger. They married in the fall of 1959. They moved to Los Alamos in January 1960. It was a cold snowy night when they came up the one lane road. They agreed to stay for the six months, but the next day when they looked out, they found a very beautiful place to live. Julia passed away July 25, 2014.
Jack started working for the Los Alamos School District in January 1960. He worked for them until June 1993. In the 60’s he also worked for LANL. His job was to take information about a bomb and figure out what it would do. He decided that wasn’t what he wanted to do and instead continued teaching Math and Computers.
Jack tried to make a difference in Los Alamos. Besides helping mold the minds of many young people. He had Scout Troop 329 on Barranca Mesa. At one point there were over 100 boys in the troop. Several received their Eagle Scouts like he had. He was President for the Sunrise Kiwanis. During his term they established the breakfast with Santa to help the kids in Española with food and toys. He established the donations of suitcases for children who were being moved into foster care. He helped make the park at the entrance to LA a place for RV’s and campers. It even included a dump station.
He was a trustee for Post 20. During his time, they took over the fireworks display. He was an active member of the Los Alamos United Church. He was also a member of the Los Alamos Sportsmans Club. He enjoyed playing Pinochle on Tuesday afternoons. He enjoyed his afternoon strolls around the block and a swim in the evening. And in the last couple of years, he purchased the General’s car and has helped to see that it is on display around town for all to enjoy.
Jack is survived by his children Joni Sellars, Jeff Gehre and Justin Gehre; grandchildren Jeffrey Gehre (Amanda), Tina Gehre, Preston Grey, Kelsey Williams (Trey) and Drew Sellars. He has a greatgrandson Ben Gehre. He also still has a brother Jerry Gehre and wife Betty. He is preceded by Julia N. Gehre, his wife.
Jack’s funeral service will be Sept. 5, 2023 at The United Church of Los Alamos. It will be at 10:30 a.m. He will be buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery, service there is at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Los Alamos Historical Society care of the General’s car P.O. Box 43, Los Alamos, NM 87544 to help keep the General’s car on the road for many people to enjoy.
