Leon E. Muhlick

Born in Helena, Montana, Leon was adopted at age two by Clarence and Myrtle Muhlick. In 1943 he moved with his family to Seattle, Washington, where Clarence would be a Botany instructor and in charge of the Botany Greenhouse at the University of Washington. Seattle would be home for Leon’s school years, including graduation from Roosevelt High School in 1957 and the University of Washington in 1961. Encouraged to go to college by family friend August Dvorak, Ph.D., Leon earned a degree in Philosophy and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. While balancing his afternoon job in the UW Division of Counseling and Testing with morning classes, Leon also learned automatic data processing.

September 1961 saw Leon married to Carol Younker, followed in January 1962 by a call to active duty in the U.S. Army. When the Army learned of Leon’s data processing knowledge, his temporary duty at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana became a two-year stay so that he could teach data processing. Leon was a First Lieutenant on the Faculty from March 1962 to December 1963 and received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in January 1964. That same month, he became an employee of Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance Company. Leon’s arrival, with his data processing knowledge and experience, coincided with the arrival of the company’s first computer. He would remain at Mutual of Enumclaw until his retirement as Vice President of Administration in April 1999. Along with his usual duties, Leon enjoyed teaching company history to new employees, and helped start Mutual of Enumclaw Credit Union in 1966.

Leon and Carol enjoyed 40 years of boating around the Puget Sound and Canadian Gulf Islands along with camping, car trips to scenic areas in the West, and a memorable trip to Great Britain. At home, Leon served 26 years on the Enumclaw Planning Commission. He was a member of the Enumclaw Kiwanis Club and served a term as President. Leon and Carol were also members of Totem Yacht Club in Tacoma for a few years. He is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Heather Fuller and son-in-law Dan Fuller, grandchildren Luca and Ellery, extended family Kay and Bob Rozendal and Debbie and Allan Younker, and others. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Enumclaw Friends of the Library.

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