Leslie deFinta

Leslie deFinta , age 92, of Marshall, died at his home on Thursday, August 3, 2006. Leslie was born on December 20, 1913 in Sopron, Hungary to Jozsef and Maria (Redey) Finta. He was educated in Hungary, earning a Masters in Fine Arts Degree from the University of Sopron. He served in the Hungarian Air Corps during WWII, flying fighter planes. He was injured several times in combat related crashes, and was captured by the Russians in 1944 after being shot down. He was a Russian Prisoner of War until 1945. Finding out that his family was on the newly ruling Hungarian Communist Party''s enemies list, he escaped with his wife and oldest daughter. He was captured by American forces in Belgium, and was held in a detainee camp for a year before his release. He emigrated to Canada in 1950 after signing a contract for a year obligation to the Canadian Government to be an agricultural worker. Leslie and his wife Margit settled in Canada, where he hoed beet fields by hand for a year. They then moved to Hamilton where he worked as a painter, primarily working on railroad cars. After that he worked in a mental hospital in Ontario, where he became interested in helping children. Leslie was able to naturally connect to children, and as a result pursued this type of work for many years. Margit preceded him in death in the mid-1950''s. He was married to Doris in 1955. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1960. Leslie married Helen A. Hooper on May 18, 1963 in Buffalo, New York. The couple moved to Marshall in November of 1969 and have lived here since then. Leslie moved to Marshall when he became Director of Starr Commenwealth''s Intermediate Campus in Albion. In the early 1970''s he left Starr to form "The Ark For Runaways" in Kalamazoo. It was an independent agency until becoming a division of Catholic Family Services. He retired from there in 1983. Art was always a part of his life, especially after his retirement, when he had the time to explore and work in many artistic mediums. He sculpted, and painted in water colors and oils. After his retirement he took a pottery class at KCC. He built a Raiku Kiln that he fired his work in, in the family''s back yard. He created many pieces of pottery as well as masks. Many years ago, he enjoyed working with the Sonoma Elementary second grade class, helping them create pottery pieces, which he took home and fired for them. Leslie enjoyed camping with wife Helen, camping in a tent on the ground until he was 75 years of age. He maintained a garden at their home, and walked regularly at the Griever Nature Center on Verona Road. After a heart attack ten years ago, he slowed somewhat from these activities because his body was not always as willing as his insurmountable spirit. Leslie liked to travel with wife Helen, as long as she planned the trip! He loved his family, and activities with them all were abundant and memorable. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. His favorite saint was St. Francis, with whom he shared an immense love for all nature. Surviving Leslie are his wife Helen; 3 daughters, Margit (Clyde) Babcock and Maria (Peter) Smith all of Toronto, and Rebecca deFinta of Albion; 2 sons, Alexander (Ivis) deFinta and Michael deFinta all of Marshall; 6 grandchildren Gregory (Phyllis ) Babcock and David (Sandra) Babcock all of Toronto, Carlos Cepeda of Virginia, Ivianis Cepeda of California, Alexander D. deFinta, and Iris deFinta both of Marshall; 3 great-grandchildren, Ryan and Jaden Babcock, and Avree Cepeda; many cousins, nieces and nephews in Hungary. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Jozsef, Eugene, Regina, Ilona, Bela, Sandor, and Istvan. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Sunday from 1PM to 8PM, where family will be present to greet friends and share memories from 1PM to 3PM and 5PM to 7PM. A Scripture Service will be held on Sunday evening at 7PM at the funeral home. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday at noon at St. Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Stephen Naas officiating. Interment at St. Mary Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be directed to St. Francis Mission of Rosebud, SD. Assistance with memorials is available at Kempf Funeral Home.