Lawrence “Buck” Vander Leest, 83 of Algonquin, died peacefully January 17, 2020.
Buck was born March 15, 1936 in Green Bay, Wisconsin the son of Lawrence and Elizabeth Vander Leest. On June 24, 1961 he married Romaine Molitor. He proudly served in the United States Marines and he worked as a civil engineer for the railroad.
He is survived by his loving wife, Romaine Vander Leest, his children, Joel (Cheryl) Vander Leest, Jill (Michael) Hader, and Jay (Erin) Vander Leest, 10 grandchildren and by his sister, Elizabeth (Alvin) Little. He was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne, and sister, Bootsie.
Buck loved life. He and Romaine traveled extensively and were active in the community. He worked with numerous causes through the McHenry County Marine Corps League with one of his favorites being the annual Toys for Tots campaign. Buck was an avid and life long Green Bay Packer fan. His love for life encompassed family, friends, faith, service and fun.
Visitation will be at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, January 22 with Mass to follow at 10:30 AM. Both will take place at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1023 McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
For further information, please call the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or on line condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
So very sorry for your loss...” The Mouse” was truly legendary. He touched many lives in so many ways and will be truly missed.
Our sincerest condolences to Romaine and all of you. The Circle of life its hard to comprehend but the loss of a loved one is, and will always be difficult. Memories how ever will be with you for a life time and you have plenty of them, and those will help in your healing process as it has done in mine. He will be missed for sure but he will be watching over all of you. God has brought him back home and he is now with those who have passed before him. You will see him again I am a firm believer. May he rest in peace he is now part of God's Kingdom. "Buck" you have left many who that love you and that love will forever be in their hearts but your time here has ended and your new journey has begun. May you see the peace and serenity that the mighty heavens have waiting for you,.
Romaine, We were so sorry to hear that "Buck" had passed. "Buck" started me in the Engineering Department on the CNW. I was at the age to be shaped and guided. He did that quite well for me. Working with "Buck" on the CNW for most part (manybe 95% of the time) was just great. For many of the years working with him I never heard him raise his voice to anyone. We never had a bad day within the engineering department, many some difficult ones. Even during the difficult days when the CNW was in great financial distress. The financial distress included cutting budgets which meant cuts in material and manpower. I know he thought of all the persons on staff in the engineering department as friends and family. The bad times passed. He always gave out direction to the Engineering Technicians in a manor of meeting goals instead of directing specific directives. For me he was always there to answer any questions and request direction. I would say that all of the Engineering Technicians thought that "Buck" ran the entire department. He worked with numerous new Managers coming into the engineering department, it seemed an a daily basis, directing and educating them for their Wisconsin Division stopover. One of his daily goals was to get the job done correctly the first time. I think he got a lot of his work ethic from being a Marine. Many times the technicians felt that the management of the CNW was putting to much on "Bucks" plate all the time. You would see him in the office every Saturday morning trying to get ahead. I remember the very good times like the "Brewer Game Tailgate Parties" and the late morning get together at your home in Menomonee Falls on weekends discussing the world along with refreshments. Yet the next morning seeing him in church giving honor to "God". When the Wisconsin Division was broken up each of us were sent to a new home on the CNW. That was the time I lost contact with him and many great fellow workers and friends. I have to say that "Buck" taught me much about railroading. He gave me the direction and desire to finish my career withing the railroad industry. It was a true pleasure knowing and working with him. Sometimes I mention that meeting thousands of railroaders within my career that I would only hire a hand full of them to work for me. "Buck" is one of those persons. "Buck" will be missed but this direction, inspiration and guidance he gave all of us will continue with in many of the technicians lifes. It was a pleasure "Buck" you will be in prayers tonight. Mike Kulbacki
God Bless You All. Such a difficult time...
Dear Romaine and family, our deepest condolence during this time of loss and yet fondest memories. I could simply cut/paste the entire narrative from Mike Kulbacki. Our boss for what seems like a short amount of years now, was "Buck" and nothing more, that is how he liked to be addressed by everyone. Allow me to repeat Mike's sentiments, a kinder more gentle man you can not find. He is truly missed. God's comfort be with all of you and the memories stay clear until we meet again. Love, Guido's