A graveside service and inurnment will be 10 a.m. Monday, November 2, 2026 at Benjamin Cemetery in Amoret, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel and Crematory (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. No visitation. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Leslie Norman Ward, age 81 of Bolingbrook, Illinois passed away on August 2, 2026. He was born on November 18, 1945, in Bates County, Missouri, to Laurnell and Everett Ward. He was the oldest of five children and grew up in Grandview, Missouri, where he attended and graduated from Grandview High School. After graduating, Leslie moved to Chicago, where he began working for the railroad. He dedicated many years to his work before eventually retiring.
He enjoyed playing cribbage and other card games, collecting coins, and watching movies and television shows. He had a real passion for recording movies and shows, and he took great pride in his video collections. He was very particular and detailed about how he organized everything, and anyone who knew him knew just how much time and care he put into his collections.
Leslie was preceded in death by his parents, Laurnell and Everett Ward, and his brother, Delbert Ward. He leaves behind his sisters, Minerva DePriest, Sharon Davidson, and Charleane Huie; his close friends, Stefanie and Maggie Synal and Patrick Jackson, who held a special place in his life; and countless nieces and nephews who will cherish his memory.
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