Leslie H. Cross

Leslie “Les” H. Cross II, 46, of Dowagiac, passed away Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, August 25, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Apostolic Lighthouse Church, 30402 M-62 West, Dowagiac with Rev. Larry Brewer officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac. Friends may visit with the family from 5 until 8 P.M. on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St, Dowagiac. Memorial contributions may be made to The Benefit for Les Cross II, at First Source Bank in Dowagiac. Those wishing to sign Les’s guestbook on line may do so at www.clarkch.com. Les was born January 11, 1971 in South Bend, IN to Leslie “Les” Cross I and Sally (Wiggins) Owen. He graduated from Dowagiac Union High in 1989. Les worked at Tyler refrigeration in Niles for 14 years, at Dimplex in Kalamazoo for a short time and most recently at Genesis Products in Elkhart, IN. On November 14, 2003 he married the love of his life, Shannon K. Rodriguez in Sister Lakes. Together they formed a family, and have two beautiful daughters. Les was always there to support and cheer on both of his girls, whether it was sports, 4-H or showing at the fair. He enjoyed camping, fishing, or anything that meant he could spend time with his family and friends. Les had a love for football at a very young age, he started out playing Rocket Football and went on to play for the Dowagiac Chieftain Football team in high school. As an adult he was involved in coaching Rocket Football and refereeing for the Michigan High School Athletic Association.  Anyone that saw Les knew that he was a huge Florida State football fan, he rarely went anyplace that he wasn’t wearing his garnet and gold.  Les loved football but not as much as he loved his wife and girls. Les never met a person who didn’t become his friend. He was a kind hearted man with an infectious laugh who would do anything for anyone; he showed the world that there is still good in humanity. Les will be greatly missed by his friends and family. Les is survived by his wife, Shannon; his daughters, McKenzie and Deonna, his parents, Les Cross I and Sally A. (Ed) Owen; brother, Jack (April) Cross II; sister, Jennifer (Chuck) LaPorte of Dowagiac; his maternal grandmother, Jewell Wiggins; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Les was preceded in death by his son, Justin Cross; maternal grandfather, Everett Wiggins, Jr.; paternal grandparents Jack and Helen (Gordon) Cross and a niece Alexis Cross.