Leonard A. Gashler

Leonard (Len) Alaric Gashler, our beloved husband and father, a true believer and follower of our Savior Jesus Christ, passed away on September 21, 2021 at the age 71. Married to Linda Christensen, he is the father of six children and ten grandchildren. Len dealt valiantly with Parkinson’s Disease for twelve years, showing kindness and gratitude to others all the way.

An all-American boy, Len was born in Oakland, California on the Fourth of July, 1950, sixth of eleven children. He graduated from high school in San Jose, California. As a child, he liked playing outdoors, sometimes floating homemade boats in a creek near his home. He also enjoyed swimming, tennis, high school football, water polo, and surfing. He was honored to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Austria, where his father was born.

Len earned his BS and MBA degrees from BYU. He worked for forty-two years in Insurance and Financial Planning, learning every facet of the life insurance industry, and earning his CLU, ChFC, and other honors. Many people were blessed from his expert advice in financial planning. He was most noted for teaching advanced concepts to agents in the western states, as part of Beneficial Life’s Home Office team. He was also the company’s convention planner for ten years. His career took him and his family from state to state, including New York, Texas, Ohio, Washington, Arizona, and of course, Utah.

He served in many different church callings. He especially loved serving as Bishop of the Kirkland, Washington Fourth Ward and as a scout leader, having many experiences with his own sons. More recently, he and Linda were privileged to serve as missionaries at the BYU Family History Library for two years and as leaders in their stake Special Needs Mutual with their daughter, Deanna.

Len loved spending time with his family. He hosted family dinners, camp outs, hikes, reunions, and took the family on many vacations, including to church history and American history sites. He attended his kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events, storytelling festivals, and concerts, and was a longtime supporter of the arts.

He was proud of his family heritage, both on this and the other side of the veil. He is survived by his wife Linda, his six children and their spouses: Michael & Desire’ Gashler, Springdale, AR; Christy & Tom Cimarusti, Naples, FL; Steve & Teresa Gashler, Orem, UT; Deanna Gashler, Orem, UT; Eric & Kirsten Gashler, Seattle, WA; Brian & Melissa Gashler, South Jordan, UT, and his ten grandchildren: Jamie, Talie, Paul, Ariah, Christopher, Aspen, Evan, Percy, Aowyn, and Jacob. And also by his beloved siblings Ted, Leilani, Marcie, Byron, Von, & Dave.

He is predeceased by his parents, Bearl Fenn and Alaric Franz Gashler, and siblings: Mavis, Dan, Connie and Cordell, and his in-laws, Faye and LaVerl Christensen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October First at 11:00 a.m. at the Aspen Eighth Ward Chapel, 1485 North 800 West, Orem, UT. A viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. preceding the funeral. Interment will be at the Provo Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.uvfuneral.com.