Leonard R. Nappa

A Celebration of Life Service for Leonard R. Nappa, 89, of Ely, will be held at Veteran’s on the Lake – 161 Fernberg Road – Ely, MN on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 11:00am. Inurnment will take place in the Ely Cemetery. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Leonard died suddenly on Friday, August 14, 2015 at his home in Ely. Leonard was born April 29, 1926 in Ely, MN to Charles and May (Perttula) Nappa. Following his schooling, he enlisted with the US Navy. Leonard served during WWII in the South Pacific. On April 14, 1951 he married Donna Hokkanen in Virginia, MN. Leonard worked for the DMIR Railroad as a conductor for 37 years. He was active in the Ely Ski Jumping program where he served as a judge. He also attended the Lake Placid Olympics where he served as a pre-judge. He was co-founder of the Hidden Valley Ski area and was inducted into the Ski Jumping Hall of Fame in Red Wing MN. Leonard was also an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and construction on the cabin. Leonard often looked forward to connecting with this fellow servicemen every year at his Navy reunions. Survivors include his children: Gary (Jean) Nappa of Aurora, Tracy Speldrich of Gaylord, MN, Nancy Nappa of Ely and Mark Nappa of Ely; grandchildren: David, Adrian, Nicole, Misty, Michael, Heather and Ella; six great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna; son, Richard and two children, David and Erica in infancy.