Leon L. Haskamp

Leon L. Haskamp, 80, of Smithville passed away on June 27, 2016 at home surrounded by his family.

He was born on January 18, 1936 in Glasgow, Missouri to Henry and Frances (Hackman) Haskamp.

Leon moved from Glasgow to Slater, Warrensburg, Lexington, and finally to the Kansas City area in 1968.  With his large family in tow (five boys and one daughter), he and his beloved wife and childhood sweetheart, Mary Jo, raised their family in South Kansas City, MO near Longview Lake.  As most families did in that era they spent summer vacations camping, traveling and fishing across the US.  Leon truly enjoyed the outdoors and teaching his family about nature.  He loved passing on things he had learned from his younger days, growing up on the family farm in the river bottoms of Glasgow.  He enjoyed cooking, hunting, bird watching, but most of all fishing.  He loved to fish for crappie at the many lakes in eastern Kansas, north central Missouri and the Lake of the Ozarks.  He also loved to hunt deer and turkey.  The family would always count on having crappie fillets and wild game at Christmas and Thanksgiving from his many homegrown recipes.

Leon also loved baseball.  He played in the Ban Johnson leagues as a young man in the 1950’s.  He was a talented left-handed pitcher with no fear, and could strike out the best.  He was never far away from the radio or the TV when our beloved Kansas City Royals were playing.

Leon was a lifelong Catholic and a member of Church of the Good Shepherd in Smithville.  Leon retired as a meat cutter/butcher for Safeway and Food Barn grocery stores in 1998 after 35 years of service.  He was a proud member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, AFL-CIO, (UFCW) Local 576.

He is survived by wife of 58 years, Mary Jo (Himmelberg) Haskamp of the home in Smithivlle; three brothers Melvin (Eileen), James (Regina) and Norman, his five sons and a daughter, Keith Haskamp (Rob Schultz), Cindy Haskamp Clark (Gordon), Mark Haskamp (Becky), Kevin Haskamp (Elizabeth), Gregory Haskamp, and Steve Haskamp (Dale Masterson); his beloved grandchildren Tony Souder (Livi), Mitch Clark, Kaley Clark Lane (Josh), Tara Haskamp, Levi Haskamp, Noah Haskamp, Ira Haskamp; his great grandchildren Flynn Lane, Ryker Lane, Grayson Haskamp, Reif Souder and Keigan Souder.

He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Frances Haskamp, brothers Henry Haskamp, Jr., Bobby Haskamp, Tommy Haskamp and a sister Leanna Haskamp Johnson.  He will be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. 

Prayer Service:  6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 30th Visitation following until 8:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Smithville

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 1st Visitation from 10:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Smithville.

Burial Resurrection Cemetery Kansas City, MO

In lieu of flowers, memorial Contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Catholic Church