As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Herbert Dennis Leopold, age 80 and longtime resident of Hancock, MI passed away on October 13, 2026 with family at his side. Herb was born on March 19, 1946 to Herbert F. and Lucille F. (Wank) Leopold of Glandorf, Ohio.
Herb grew up in Glandorf, attending school there and was a member of the last senior class of Glandorf High School, graduating in 1964. Following graduation he attended the University of Dayton before enlisting in the United States Air Force, serving 4 years and attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was briefly assigned to the Calumet Air Force Station, Keweenaw County, MI and while in the Copper Country, he met his future wife Kathleen Rost, whom he married on October 23, 1971.
Herb and Kathy first lived in Lansing before settling in Flint, MI, where he worked first as a copy machine technician, before becoming a partner in the business. He eventually sold his interest in the company to start Copy Tech, an early retailer in the home computer market in Flint. Herb was an entrepreneur at heart. In 1986 he closed Copy Tech and returned to the Keweenaw with Kathy and his two sons, Dennis and David, to open the Food Barrel, a bulk food store in Houghton, MI. Herb rounded out his long career as an entrepreneur with Trackside Layouts LLC, a custom model railroad design and construction company that he operated with his sons.
Herb was proud of his commercial pilot’s license, earned while in the Air Force. In later years he often likened his being an engineer on a steam locomotive to being a pilot and loved giving train rides at the Houghton County Historical Society in Lake Linden, MI. He was also an avid fisherman, a passion instilled in his son David, and his love for exploring the Keweenaw materialized in Dennis’s passion for Copper Country history. But, ultimately Herb’s greatest joy were his five grandchildren.
Herb is survived by Kathy, his wife of 55 years, their two boys Dennis (Patricia) of Painesdale, MI, and David (Amanda) of Dollar Bay, MI. Herb was the eldest of five children and is survived by his siblings Joanne (and the late Jim) Lovell of Ottawa, OH, Ronald (Marty) Leopold of Glandorf, OH, Karen (and the late Ron) Dickman of Ottawa, OH, and Jim (Sue) Leopold of Glandorf, OH. Additionally he is survived by various nieces, nephews and cousins.
Herbert was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
A funeral Mass will be held in Hancock, MI at the Church of the Resurrection on Monday October 19, 2026. Visitation at the church will begin at 9AM, with the Mass following at 10AM. Burial will occur at the Calvary Cemetery in Ahmeek, MI.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
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