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Leland William Wassmuth
January 15, 1957 ~ April 1, 2022 (age 65) 65 Years Old
Leland William Wassmuth (Lee) of Boise died peacefully in his sleep on April 1, 2022, at the age of 65. He was born in Cottonwood, Idaho, to Clemens (Slim) and Ellen Wassmuth on January 15, 1957. He was the fourth of five children. After high school, he graduated from Lewis and Clark State College with a Bachelor’s in Industrial Management and worked a year or two at Potlatch in Lewiston, Idaho. He later graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Accounting. He was a certified public accountant and worked for the Idaho State Tax Commission for over 38 years in Lewiston and, later, in Boise.
Lee married Stacey Spain, and they had a son, Matthew Wassmuth, who they both loved and adored. Matt was the center of Lee’s world for many years after he and Stacey divorced. Lee enjoyed attending Matt’s basketball and football games, taking him to guitar lessons, and spending time in the outdoors with Indian Guides. Lee and Stacey had great respect for one another and did a wonderful job working together to raise Matt.
Lee had a great and sometimes odd sense of humor and was a master of puns. When he got together with his older brother, Wayne, it was often one groaner after another. Lee liked yanking people’s chain at times, but he was a people person. He also had a passion for firearms and loved studying the history. Anyone who watched action movies with Lee could tell you he knew the make and model of almost any firearm by glancing at it and could tell you if the gun scene in the movie was realistic. Lee spent some years training in Doshinkan Aikido martial arts, but he gave that up when it was taking too much time from parenting, which he placed as a high priority.
Lee married Kathy White Wassmuth on September 25, 2004, after dating for five years. They both had a love for camping, hiking, bicycling, and other outdoor activities, which brought them together. Lee would often say something like, “Hike number 255,” when starting another hike in the mountains. Unfortunately, Lee’s rheumatoid arthritis and other health issues slowed him down, and he grieved the loss of his ability to continue those activities. Lee was instrumental in helping to raise Kathy’s children, Dustin and Diane, and was a loving father, stepfather, and mentor. He also unselfishly encouraged Kathy to continue the outdoor activities that made her happy, but they created some fun together such as driving through Cathedral Valley in Utah, visiting the Oregon coast, watching movies, and discussing life.
Lee is survived by his wife Kathy, son Matthew Wassmuth, stepchildren, Dustin Abbe and Diane Bland, sisters Judy Clovis and Diane Shryock, brother Vic Wassmuth, brother-in-law Mike Clovis, brother-in-law Mike Shryock, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, family members, and friends.
Lee is preceded in death by his parents Clem and Ellen Wassmuth, brother Wayne, nephew Kirk Clemens, and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 2201 Woodlawn Ave in Boise.
Lee would prefer a donation to the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights over flowers.
Services
Service
Wednesday April 13, 2022 2:00 PM First Congregational United Church of Christ 2201 Woodlawn Avenue Boise, ID 83702