Dr. A. Leonard Tuggy, age 91, a resident of Naperville, went to be with the Lord on Monday, January 6, 2021. He had devoted his life to loving, serving, worshipping, and enjoying Jesus Christ, and discovering God's universe through his astronomy studies, which he continued to his last days.

Dr. Tuggy was born on July 9, 1929, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, to missionary parents, Arthur and Roe (Williams) Tuggy. Dr. Tuggy later arrived in the United States in 1932, and married his wife Jeannette Lenora Stokes on January 24, 1953. Jeannette passed away in January 2018.

Sent by their home church, the First Baptist Church of West Los Angeles and the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society ("CBFMS," now WorldVenture), Dr. Tuggy and Jeannette served as missionaries in the Philippines from 1956 through 1973, founding churches in Lucena City, Sariaya, and Candelaria, Quezon, Philippines. Dr. Tuggy then served as the CBFMS director of Asia Ministries in Wheaton, Illinois, for 20 years between 1974 and 1994. In this role, he supervised the work of missionaries in Asia, traveling from Japan and the Far East to Jordan in the Middle East.

He is the author of "The Philippine Church" in 1971, "Iglesia ni Cristo" in 1976, and "The Gospel of John: An Inductive Study" in 1986. He is also the co-author of "Seeing the Church in the Philippines" in 1972. A former chairman of the Cooperating Home Boards of the Union Biblical Seminary of India in Wheaton from 1990 to 1991, Dr. Tuggy remains active as a longtime member of the American Society of Missiology.

Dr. Tuggy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronomy at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1953 and Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary in 1956, followed by a Master of Theology and Doctor of Missiology at the School of World Mission in 1968 and 1974, respectively. The Conservative Baptist Church ordained Dr. Tuggy to ministry in 1957. He received The Donald Anderson McGavran Award in 1974, and has been highlighted in the fourth edition of Who's Who in Religion.

Dr. Tuggy is the proud father of three children, Stephen, a retired attorney, Michael, a doctor of family medicine, and Lynette, the owner of a music school. Since 2008, Dr. Tuggy has resided in Monarch Landing, a retirement community, remaining active by conducting a bible study, leading an astronomy club on site, and taking an active leadership role in various organizations. He was an unassuming and gentle man, admired and loved by his family, co-workers, and friends.

Dr. Tuggy is survived by his three children, Stephen (Susan) Tuggy of Los Angeles, CA, Michael (Kathy) Tuggy of Winthrop, WA, and Lynette (David) Zelis of Wheaton, six grandchildren, Sarah Robertson, Jeremy Tuggy, Daniel Sarjeant, Kristin Sarjeant, Andrew Zelis and Laura Zelis, and two great-grandchildren, Jordan Sarjeant and Eleni Pelafas.

A memorial service was held virtually on Saturday, January 30, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. To view the service please click HERE .

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to WorldVenture (Philippines Ministries) 20 Inverness Pl E, Englewood, CO 80112-5622.

For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.