Leo Joseph Gese

Leo Joseph Gese was born to Joseph and Elizabeth Gese on November 13, 1926 in Hosmer S.D. and passed peacefully in the presence of his wife of 64 years on December 21, 2014. Leo and Desa were residents of South Snohomish County for many years where Leo and his law partner, Gay Riach formed the law firm of Riach and Gese in 1959. He served as the City of Lynnwood Attorney and formed numerous water districts in Snohomish county. He served on the Snohomish County Housing Authority since its incn in 1971. He was instrumental in forming the Edmonds Senior Center while providing free legal advice and help to senior citizens. Leo was one of five children, Albert Gese, Lawrence Gese (deceased), Robert Gese, and Marina Petosa. After serving in the Army during during WW II, he entered the University of Washington, joined the Theda Chi Fraternity where he made life-long friends. He also met and married his wife Desa P. Gudmundson in 1950. They had eight children: Gregory George (deceased), Guy Gerard (deceased), Geoffrey of Everett, Desa M. Gese of Tacoma, Pauline M. (deceased), Guyen G. (deceased), Leo G.P. (Marla) of Monroe, and Paul J. (Nancy) of Bellevue. Leo had five grandchildren: John Conniff, Leo Conniff (Alida), Desa P. Conniff, and twins Guy and Steven Gese. During his years of practice he was the founding member of the Snohomish County Housing Authority in 1971 and remained a Commissioner Emeritus until his death. The Leo Gese Neighborhood Center was named after him in appreciation of his efforts. He ran for the State House of Representatives in the 1960s using the slogan Gese Gets Things Done. This ingrained in his children a sense of public service. After retiring from more than 50 years of the practice of law, he began volunteering his time with the Sisters of Presentation of Aberdeen South Dakota and spent many months of each year doing missionary work with them in Mexico and Bolivia where he was known as the candy man to the indigenous children and baked bread for the missionary nuns. He built a church in the mountains above Acapulco named after his parents Joseph and Elizabeth. He and Desa traveled the world. They exposed their children to Europe and, later, their grandchildren to different cultures in travels China, Korea, Mongolia, Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. He was very proud of his grandchildren and their accomplishments. Leo and Desa enjoyed a good party and loved to dress up. Everything that Leo did was driven by his strong and visible faith and compassion for the downtrodden. Leo left his mark on every person that he met during his long life. He and Desa were founding parishioners of St. Thomas More Church in Lynnwood where he was active until his passing. When Leo and Desa were married they made a commitment to give service to their church and their community. They have performed far beyond this promise.