Leslie LeRoy Dryden

Leslie LeRoy Dryden passed away peacefully at home on May 28, 2022, surrounded by his family. Les was born on March 25, 1935, in Rockford IL to Vance Leslie Dryden and Helen (Hauger) Dryden. Les attended school in Rockford, IL and received his degree in Airborne Electronics in El Paso, TX. He joined the Air Force in 1954 and was a staff sergeant in the Air Force Strategic Air Command, serving active duty in Korea from 1954 - 1957. He was also a member of the Air Force Ready Reserves until 1962. In 1958 Les began employment with Barber-Colman/Siebe/Invensys and retired in 2006 as the senior manufacturing engineer of the temperature controls division. His coworkers always said, “you’ll get more with Les.” Les enjoyed attending all of his son Gary’s Special Olympic activities, even hosting a huge crowd of about 80 of Gary’s friends for a big picnic in their yard every summer. When he married Carolyn, he became an instant grandpa to 1 teenage boy, 2 little girls aged two and three, and a beautiful baby boy. He considered Kathleen and David his children.  After retirement, Les enjoyed caring for his home and yard. As an engineer, he loved tinkering and working with his hands. He and his wife, Carolyn, took many road trips to Mt. Rushmore, Branson and taking the grandchildren on trips to Grand Marais, MN. He was a quiet, gentle and loving man.

He was a member of the Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Roscoe, IL, serving as a greeter, usher and a member of the building and grounds committee. He also served as a volunteer at the St. James Cornucopia Food Pantry, Illinois Growth Enterprises and the Special Olympics.

Les is loved and will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 24 years, Carolyn E. Dryden; stepdaughter, Kathleen (Jim) Holford, Janesville, WI; stepson, David (Stephanie) Buzzo, Davis Junction, IL; stepsons, Tom Morris, AZ, John and Dan Morris, OH, and Bob Morris, Australia; grandson, Jimmy (Michelle) Holford III, Janesville, WI; granddaughter, Nicole (Dominic) Usera, Surprise, AZ, Sarah Holford (Thomas Gimmer) Edgerton, WI; grandson, David Buzzo Jr, Rockford, IL; sisters, Patricia Bing of Coloma, WI and Susie (Buck) Murphy of Rockford, IL; brother-in-law and best friend, Clarence Beck, Rockford, IL; nephews, Bruce Williams, Rockford, IL, and Chad and Tim Van Tassel from WI; and his beloved dog, Ginger.

Predeceased by his parents, Vance Dryden and Helen Lee; brother, Cecil Dryden; stepbrother, Alan Lee; son, Gary M. Lee; his first wife, Margaret E. Dryden (Williams); and second wife, Dorothy Morris.  

Visitation and funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory – Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park, IL 61111. Visitation at 10:00 AM and funeral at 11:00 AM with Chaplain Sue Null officiating. Luncheon will be at St. James Church, 428 N. 2nd St., Rockford, IL. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Machesney Park, IL. Memorials may be made to the family to be established at a later date.

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