Leon L. Northrop

Leon Leroy. “Red” Northrop, Jr., 76, of Dowagiac, MI, died Thursday, December 15, 2016 at his residence. A Celebration of Life Service, with Pastor Justin Shepherd, will take place on Wednesday, January 11, 2016 at 5:00pm at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St. Dowagiac, MI.  Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, from 3:00pm until the time of the service.  Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.clarkch.com. Leon was born in Niles, MI on September 30, 1940 to Leon Victor Northrop, Sr. and Ora Lee Eisele Northrop. He retired in 1989 from the Sundstrand Heat Transfer Company, where he had worked as an inspector.  Leon was an avid storyteller who could be “oddly inappropriate” at times and who liked to get to his point. Leon is survived by two sons, Lance Northrop, Dowagiac, MI and Leon L. (Candice) Northrop, III, South Bend, IN; two daughters, Tracy (Ed) Wilson, Dowagiac, MI and Stacey Northrop, Dowagiac, MI; a step daughter, Kathleen Carpenter; two sisters, Julia (Rodney) Francis, South Bend, IN and Helen (Marvin) Garret, Missouri.  He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Amanda Pence, Alice Smith, Brandon (Joycelle) Smith, Crystal (Brandon) Reed, David (Jayne) Smith, Codi Northrop, Leon L. Northrop, IV, Katalina Green, Alexinana Green and Lance Northrop and thirteen great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Leon was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Buchanan Northrop and a granddaughter, Elizabethe Northrop.