Lowell L. Leishman

Today, February 25^th, 2022–the world lost a great man. Lowell L. Leishman passed away peacefully after a battle to keep his body and his mind from giving out. Because of his love for life, he did as the poet admonished: he forced his “heart and nerve and sinew, to serve {his} turn long after they were gone.”  He held on and held on until there was nothing more anyone on earth could do to restore his health—and so he went home to rest, to say goodbye to his beloved family, and he “made off toward the bright light he saw in the sky—the lights of the city of God.” It is because of our dad and his Christ-like love that we know heaven is his destination. That is where he is now. There, another great family reunion is underway.

Early Life

Lowell Leishman was born on May 24, 1932, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Mark and Florence Leishman. He was born into the throes of the depression. He embraced the power of work and the genius of its ability to shape a boy into a man. Sandwiched as the middle brother, he shared newspaper routes and any part-time work to help his caring mother and father. Perhaps it was the scarcity of those years that sparked his ingenuity, accentuating the positive and his deep understanding of the doctrine of the family.

Lowell was a loyal West High Panther, a graduate of the Class of 1949. He loved sports, especially baseball and football and was up for participating in any extra-curricular activities.  It was during such an activity his charismatic eyes met the adorable Connie Geurts, “Just the cutest little lady he ever did see”! It took some persuasion, but that being one of his greatest gifts, she became his forever.

In 1950—though his desire was to receive a mission call, he listened to counsel when he met with Bruce R. McConkie, at that time a member of the First Council of the Seventy and enlisted in the National Guard—hoping that this would still allow him to be a missionary.  Only a week later, his Unit was deployed by the United States Army to serve their Country in Korea. Lowell was an officer in the Medical Services Corps—where he was cited for “meritorious service”.  As a Sergeant and then Lieutenant—all while getting married and having a beautiful baby girl—he continued in the service of his country faithfully until 1955. His mission would have to wait until later.

A Disciple Of Christ

He left us before we all could enjoy celebrating his 90^th birthday on May 24th. But we will celebrate him always, for he has lived an extraordinary life. He was dedicated first and foremost to his sweetheart Constance Faith (Connie), to whom he was happily married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 22, 1952. As well, his dedication extended to each of his seven children—and his thirty-three grandchildren, and his sixty-two great-grandchildren—each who he loved and adored. To everyone in his family, he was Grandpa Lolo—the happiest, the kindest, the most caring person any of us have ever known. How could he know so much about each of us? How could he remember little details of our lives? How is it that a home-made Birthday Card could arrive in every mailbox every year right on time, with a dad- joke and a warm birthday wish? Grandpa Lolo had done it again, and it never ever got old to hear from he and Grandma on our birthdays. To him—family unity was worth any and every effort.

What was the motivation which drove this wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather to serve others with such tenderness, to lead with such compassion, to make all feel welcomed and valued and recognized?  It was his single-minded Discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ– with unshakable faith in Him. He was not only His Disciple, but he lived and lead under His influence and in His name. His life was one of unqualified discipleship as he intimately understood what it meant to be the Savior’s hands on earth. “Called to Serve” rang through the hallways of his life.

He served as a Bishop three times and in two different Stake Presidencies in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In these callings—he gave his heart to children, to widows, to young adults. There was always room for you. Even business partners were made to feel “like family”.

He served as a Temple Sealer in the Salt Lake as well as the Bountiful Temple for over 30 years. Those who participated in His sealings were blessed by the grace that he showed for those special and sacred occasions. He made sure every detail was in place and every person at ease for these important moments. If you were ever in a Sealing Session with him, you always came away knowing “marriage is ordained of God.”

Lowell and Connie served together when he was called as the Mission President of the Philippines Bacolod Mission (1988-91). Their Mission was known as a “Mission of Love.” Lowell learned to speak Tagalog—and he would use that beautiful language to say, “Have I told you today that I love you?” to his missionaries. In the years since serving his mission, he has continued to minister to these sweet and devoted Sisters and Elders.
His knack for making most anyone feel like family, had left thousands around the world feeling like he was their best friend to the point of many beautiful Filipino babies being named Lowell or Lowie!

A Father First

And yet, the calling, his favorite and most cherished, was that of Father. He was consistent to remind his children that he would never be released from that sacred stewardship. He taught us to love the Lord, each other, and music—yes, music. Dad’s love language was music. Seldom did he greet you without a musical rendition from “Impossible Dream” to A, you’re Adorable”. Music was a balm to his soul and his toast to the beauty of life and squeezing every note of joy from it. His accordion home recitals were the vehicle of many a great “polka” dance in our family!

Family was first, always first. As the patriarch of our family, he held Mom close to his side in tender equality as they shepherded a large and sometimes overly active flock.

And then there were the life lessons—taking his family to the Utah State Prison to have Family Home Evening with a prisoner each month. Teaching us the value of hard work and responsibility—working together in the garden and around the house.  To the end, he tutored his children in kindness, optimism, service, and his keen awareness that we are all children of our Heavenly Father.

He kept his children close and saw that each one was wrapped in a blanket of comforting love and acceptance. As each new spirit entered the family circle, he unabashedly embraced them as his own. We will never forget the energy given to make Sun Valley, Birthdays, Baptisms, Weddings, Farewells and Homecomings—so very special in our family. We will always be grateful for his loving attention and guidance.

A Career of Integrity

The shortest of his brothers and all his sons and grandsons, he was respected for being a giant of a man in the business world. Schooled as an accountant, he meshed the number’s business into dozens of thriving enterprises, all aimed at making mortality an easier place to reside.
His trademark wink and grin captured hearts and sealed more than one business deal as he easily connected on a personal level with a joke pulled from his bag of classic comedy. His entire life was framed in integrity. There was never a moment’s hesitation about “doing the right thing”.  Never.

He started as a CPA—eventually creating his own firm. He invested in real estate and apartment buildings in Rose Park while serving as a Bishop there. He said he was building these places for young couples to settle in to give the Ward some energy. But the truth came out…he had built these apartments in his Ward boundaries to shore up his Church Basketball and Softball teams! In those days, his Ward, the Rosedale Ward, were always participating in the All-Church Tournaments and the trophies gleamed from the cabinets inside the Chapel. Those who knew him throughout his life know he was a great competitor—in golf, in racquetball, in horse, in Skip-Bo, and in surrounding himself, the pitcher, with the best infield in all of Church Softball!

Lowell acquired other real estate projects and eventually became the controller of Interwest Aviation—expanding the company into construction and development, as well as warehousing and distribution. He became the Chairman of Key Airlines —selling the entire business a few years later.  He became an owner and Chairman of Richards Woodbury Mortgage Corporation.  This preparation in the mortgage business carried him to becoming an owner and Chairman of Republic Mortgage Home Loans for many years.  Throughout his long business career, he had two special partners who he loved and trusted: Hague Ellis and Ken Cutler. They were with him in many different ventures.

He was a civic minded citizen, and charitable in every way. He served on the Bountiful Power Board and other community concerns—but his great love was for the Centerpoint Legacy Theatre. His contributions allowed him to honor the memory of his sweetheart by naming one venue in the Theatre the “Connie Leishman Performance Hall.”

Celebration of his Life

How we will miss him. Yet how grateful we are for his life so well lived.

The Leishman Family expresses our gratitude for the loving care given to him by his companion for the last six years, Carolyn Alder, as well as her family.

Lowell is survived by his children, Shelley (William-deceased 2021) Davies, Deborah (David) Checketts, Scott (Kris), Laurie (George) Ralphs, Allison Leishman (David), Nate (Laurie), and Kristel (David) Affleck.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Friday, March 4^th, 2022, at the Oak Hills Ward Chapel, 455 South 1200 East, Bountiful, Utah, where a viewing will take place on Thursday evening from 6-8pm and Friday morning from 9:30-10:30am prior to services.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  Streaming will begin 10-15 minutes prior to the 11am services and will be posted below.

Interment will be at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to: Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Donations can be made at: https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services