Leonard H. Siegel died on April 19 at age 93. He moved to Milwaukee soon after his birth in Chicago in 1915. One of five siblings, he attended cheder at Congregation Beth Israel and later graduated from Washington High School.
While in high school, he participated in intramural sports, debate and orchestra, for which he played saxophone and clarinet. He was an active member of AZA.
As he wrote in a biography before his death, he encountered anti-Semitism at the ballrooms where they went for dances. “I was proud to be Jewish and I think defending myself against anti-Semitic slurs helped me to develop the street smarts I was able to use later in life.”
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1938, he joined his father in the family business, Standard Light Company. But in 1942, he went into the Army and served as a first lieutenant for the Engineer Corps. During his service, he met and married Marie Feldschrelber.
The couple moved to Milwaukee and he resumed his work at Standard Light, which was later renamed Standard Electric. He became president of the company and retired as chairman of the board.
He was active in the National Association of Electrical Distributors, serving as a member of its executive committee and chairman of the board of directors. He received the Distinguished Service Award for his contribution to the industry.
He was a member of Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue, Congregation Agudas Achim Chabad and Congregation Beth Israel, whose Siegal Hall is named for his father. He was active in Jewish War Veterans, Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, among other organizations.
The couple traveled extensively, including many trips to Israel and a trip to Poland to visit their parents’ birthplaces. In 2006, they moved to Scottsdale, Ariz.
Side interests include singing and dancing for local theater and community events. He performed at Beth El, Brynwood Country Club and the Jewish Community Center.
“My dad knew how to have fund, had a terrific sense of humor (which we all inherited) and he made sure that we all had a good time with him,” said his daughter Nancy Joy Siegel of Denver.
He “had a strong sense of right and wrong,” she continued. “He held strong opinions and he never failed to let you know when something was particularly important to him.”
Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled the funeral and burial arrangements. Graveside services were held at Second Home Cemetery. Rabbi Jacob Herber officiated.
In addition to his daughter, he is survived by sons Robert M. (Barbara) Siegel of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Avrahaum (Rina) Segol of Raanana, Israel; sister Ruth Zubatsky and Louis “Bud” Siegel of Milwaukee; and seven grandchildren.
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