Michael Bryan Leslie

Sue, our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Our prayers are with you. Jane & Matt Swartout

I was friends with Mike in high school. I remember him well as a very sweet, kind person. He will be greatly missed. John Wimberly

I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I always enjoyed working with Mike, it seems he was always smiling. Carolyn

Mike was an awesome neighbor with the most beautiful smile! I loved running into him just about daily as we let our dogs out...it made my day! I am so glad he touched my life! His legacy lives on with Sue, his sons, and his grandchildren!!! I’m glad he is out of pain now and at peace with God. Now it’s up to us to take care of Sue, and we’re happy to do so! Rest In Peace Mike!!!

So sorry for your loss. Mike was an awesome man! I loved it when he came into the office to do searching. He made the best out of every search. He always had a smile on his face. He will be missed by many!!! Hugs to you all.

I have been very fortunate to have had Mike as a best friend as long as I can remember. We started out as friends in diapers and the bond continued throughout my life and his. I can’t think of a point in my life that Mike wasn’t there. Although he departed this world, he is still with me and all of us in our hearts and our memories. My memories go back to when we were about 4 years old when our dads took us to Mass at old Saint Josephs on Park Street. A woman in the pew in front of us had on high heels and when she knelt down the heels of her shoes came off and the shoes hung on her toes. Mike and I didn’t have a clue about what the Mass was for. Being the kids we were, we each knocked one shoe off of her foot. When she turned around to face us we were busted. The chewing out we got after Mass was so frightening that after all of these years, I still remember the experience. As it turned out it may have been the beginning of our life full of fun, adventure and close escapes. Without Mike my life would have been very boring and normal. We never were destructive or criminal but we did explore the fringes of both. Our childhood was full of swimming, fishing, seining minnows, trapping muskrats, ice skating, boating, water skiing, scuba diving, exploring every foot of Spring Harbor and the creek and amazing memories. Fourth of July and First Communion celebrations were family and neighborhood events. Jane and Jack always made me feel welcome and Mike’s brothers and sisters became my extended family. I taught him how to smoke cigarettes and he taught me how to drink beer although I never learned that very well. When girls became our focus in high school we double dated and triple dated when we didn’t have a car. We shared hundreds of friends. When Mike joined the Marine Corps he wrote me exciting letters of adventure and travel and like any best friend I followed him a year later. Of all the things I did because of Mike, joining the Marine Corps and returning from Vietnam were experiences that made our bond even closer and changed the direction of our lives forever and set it for the rest of our lives. Shortly after returning from Vietnam we both met our wives and were married two weeks apart. We both graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Kathy and I were god parents to Mike’s first born son Brian. Mike and Sue were the god parents to my first son Michael. We both went on to have three sons each and four beautiful grand children each. Our families celebrated subsequent baptisms, high school graduations and weddings together. We mourned our parents’ deaths together. We both worked for the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation before our careers went in different directions. Our families and our parents remained close throughout our lives. When we retired we both bought condos in southern Florida and managed to see each other regularly in spite of being 40 miles apart. I can’t remember any time in my life when Mike wasn’t there. I can’t remember any time when we fought or were mad at each other. All I can remember is a friend who I could count on through the good and the hard times. I knew I could count on Mike for anything any time anywhere. I was very lucky to have Mike in my life. I will miss him sorely but he will always be with me in spirit and happy memories. Semper Fi buddy!