Les Dryden (1935-2022) became an instant grandpa, took many road trips

Leslie LeRoy Dryden, who earned a degree in Airborne Electronics in El Paso, TX, became a staff sergeant in the Air Force's Strategic Air Command, serving active duty in Korea from 1954-1957. He was also a member of the Air Force Ready Reserves until 1962.

In 1958 Les began employment with Barber Coleman/Siebe/Invensys and retired in 2006 as the senior manufacturing engineer of the temperature controls division. His coworkers always say, “You’ll get more with Les.”

Les passed away peacefully at home on May 28, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born on March 25, 1935, in Rockford IL to Vance Leslie Dryden and Helen (Hauger) Dryden.

Les enjoyed attending all of his son Gary’s Special Olympics activities, even hosting a huge crowd of about 80 of Gary’s friends for a big picnic in their yard every summer. When he married Carolyn, he became an instant grandpa to one teenage boy, two little girls aged two and three, and a beautiful baby boy. He considered Kathleen and David his children.  After retirement, Les enjoyed caring for his home and yard. As an engineer, he loved tinkering and working with his hands. He and his wife, Carolyn, took many road trips to Mt. Rushmore, Branson, and with the grandchildren, to Grand Marais, MN. He was a quiet, gentle and loving man.

For more local news, you may subscribe to our free newsletter.

Les was a member of the Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Roscoe, IL serving as a greeter, usher and a member of the building and grounds committee. He also served as a volunteer at the St. James Cornucopia Food Pantry, Illinois Growth Enterprises and the Special Olympics.

Les is loved and will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 24 years, Carolyn E. Dryden; stepdaughter Kathleen (Jim) Holford, Janesville, WI; stepson David (Stephanie) Buzzo, Davis Junction, IL; stepsons Tom Morris, AZ, John and Dan Morris, OH, and Bob Morris, Australia; grandson Jimmy (Michelle) Holford III, Janesville, WI; granddaughters Nicole (Dominic) Usera, Surprise, AZ, Sarah Holford (Thomas Gimmer) Edgerton, WI; grandson David Buzzo Jr, Rockford, IL; sisters Patricia Bing of Coloma, WI and Susie (Buck) Murphy of Rockford, IL; brother-in-law and best friend Clarence Beck, Rockford, IL; nephews Bruce Williams, Rockford, IL, and Chad and Tim Van Tassel from WI; and his beloved dog Ginger.

He was predeceased by his parents Vance Dryden and Helen Lee; brother Cecil Dryden; stepbrother Alan Lee; son Gary M. Lee; his first wife Margaret E. Dryden (Williams); and second wife Dorothy Morris.

Visitation and funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory – Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park, IL 61111. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. and funeral at 11:00 a.m. with Chaplain Sue Null officiating. Luncheon will be at St. James Church, 428 N 2nd St, Rockford, IL. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Machesney Park, IL. Memorials may be made to the family to be established at a later date.