Leonard J. Sytsma, age 91, a resident of Park Place of Elmhurst and formerly a longtime resident of Wheaton, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 8, 2016. He was born October 11, 1924 in Prospect Park, New Jersey to John and Gertrude Sytsma.

Len grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Eastern Christian Academy. After high school he served for four years in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a radio mechanic. He met Hermina ten Harmsel in the library at Calvin College and they were married on June 7, 1950, just after he graduated. He worked at DuMont Labs in New Jersey until moving to Wheaton in 1966 after accepting a position with Admiral Television. He later worked as a Civil Engineer for Webster and Associates in Wheaton, retiring in 1991. In retirement he worked for Scholar's Choice, traveling the country with his wife selling academic books. He was also a long time volunteer at Donka, Inc. in Wheaton, and New To You Resale Store in Broadview.

He was an active and longtime member of Wheaton Christian Reformed Church. He had a passion for Christian education and for civil rights and served on the school boards for Chicago Westside Christian School and for Timothy Christian School. His love of music included choral singing, piano playing and opera listening. His main joy in life was his family and he loved spending time with them.

He is survived by his wife Hermina, five children, Mary (Stuart) Greydanus, Daniel (Mary) Sytsma, Thomas (Judith) Sytsma, Nancy (Joseph) Maggio and Leslie Sytsma, nine grandchildren, Jeanine (Brandon) Gasper, Leah (Jason) Mraz, Erin (Andrew) Willink, Micah (Diane) Sytsma, Janna (Scott) Piersma, Joel (Amy) Sytsma, Jonathan (Rebecca) Sytsma, Andrew Maggio and Thomas Maggio, and ten great-grandchildren, Logan, Owen, Eli, Rylee, Kylie, Peyton, Cassidy, Sawyer, Anneke, and Samuel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Seth Greydanus, his brother William and his sister Jeanette Beaudoin.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Wheaton Christian Reformed Church. Private interment and military honors will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Chicago Westside Christian School.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.