Clyde Allen Leopold

Clyde Allen Leopold, age 63, passed from this earth and moved on to his heavenly reward on January 12, 2019. A memorial service will be held at Stuhr West Ashley on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Allen leaves behind his wife, Reanee, daughter Dawn (Michael), grandchildren Anara and Dylan, and stepchildren Shaun Bratcher (Angel), Pat, Gale and Glenrey Viliran. Also, siblings Beverly Whalen (Mike), Pat Leopold (Bea), Gwendy Stall (Steve), and Herman Leopold, former wife Wanda, along with numerous well-loved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews.

Allen was one of a kind. If you met him, you never forgot him. He was born with multiple physical problems, but his mind, his heart, his spirit, and his daily courage and joy in living were huge and mighty. He lived a life which was frequently filled with pain and difficulty. He may have been short, with one leg and a body which could be hard to manage, but he never considered himself disabled or handicapped. Just short.

Allen lived his life with cheerful, sunny optimism and a huge laugh. He did just about everything he wanted to do, including skydiving, photography, motorcycle riding, playing pool,jet-skiing, boating, falling in love and marrying twice. He loved science fiction and Star Trek,technology and movies. He spent a lot of time nurturing his daughter and granddaughter, along with countless nieces and nephews. His nieces and nephews have especially fond memories of times spent with Uncle Allen in the boat or jet-ski, or just hanging out and making him laugh -because he laughed at everything. Uncle Allen's laugh was bigger than he was.

Some of his unfailingly positive and optimistic attitude toward life likely came from his family of birth. His father, Papa Leo, insisted that Allen should not be coddled or protected, but treated like all the other kids as much as possible. Papa Leo encouraged him to do everything he could and wanted to do. His mom Frankie was his determined advocate at schools and hospitals and doctors' offices. To his siblings, he was just their little brother, except that his giant sized courage and optimism was far greater than their own. Allen grew up believing that he was pretty much just like everyone else on the planet. He didn't think of himself as overcoming disabilities.He was just living life on his own terms.

Allen and his little brother Herman were especially close all of their lives. They got up to all kinds of mischief when they were kids, including making off with their dad's boat when they were just elementary-school age - a story that has passed into family legend. They were pool playing teammates and roommates and remained co-conspirators as adults.

Allen was married to Wanda Leopold for many years. He was a father to Wanda's son Shaun,and to their daughter, Dawn, to whom he was deeply devoted. The birth of Dawn's daughter Anara was one of the happiest days of his life. He absolutely doted on Anara, bragged about her constantly, and could not have been a more proud grandfather.

A second chapter in Allen's life includes his wife Reanee and her children Pat and Gayle. These three gave him a new lease on life and much happiness over the last few years. Allen and Reanee had a storybook romance. They were often seen holding hands or embracing with obvious and unmistakable sincere delight in the other's presence. He loved Pat and Gayle very much and he was proud of all three for bravely meeting the challenges of living in a new country.

The short man (some called him a leprechaun, which also made him laugh) will be sadly missed by his entire family and his many friends. His sunny spirit, eternal optimism and hearty laugh will live on in everyone's collection of happy Allen memories.