Obituary
Leonard John Hoersten, 82, of Lee’s Summit, MO, formerly of Dallas, TX, passed away July 2, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO.
He was born on October 20, 1940 in Fort Jennings, OH, son of Edward and Catherine (Pohl) Hoersten. On November 24, 2018, at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, he married Sue (Keller) Hoersten. Mr. Hoersten spent his professional career in the fencing industry. His fencing career began with handling the operation of the family business, Crowley Fence Co. Upon leaving Crowley, he started his own wholesale fence company, Central Fence and Supply, which was eventually purchased by Master Halco. His next move was to Dallas, TX, where he became a corporate executive with Jamieson Manufacturing for over thirty years. Under his direction, he expanded the number of branches to include 24, located all over the United States. He was Executive Vice President of Purchasing at Jamieson. In addition to his Purchasing role, he encouraged and mentored many young entrepreneurs who started their own businesses. He spent numerous hours guiding and training branch managers to meet or surpass branch goals. He retired in 2020, having completed 60 years in the fencing industry and was hailed by peers as being an innovative legend within the industry. Len enjoyed watching sporting events (especially baseball), nurturing and growing beautiful Hydrangeas and Geraniums in his home garden, and playing with his favorite pets: puppy dogs. He loved the saying, “My idea of Heaven is to get there and find every dog I’ve ever loved waiting for me.”
He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Walter Hoersten, Fort Jennings, OH, and a sister, Eleanor Hermiller, Miller City, OH. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Michael Thomas Hoersten, Prior Lake, MN, and Stephen Allen Hoersten, Rice Lake, WI; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Manley, Minneapolis, MN; and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A family Celebration of Life will be held in Fort Jennings, OH, in the near future. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 64081.