Leslie K. Gnagy, Age 88, of Madison, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Madison Health Care in Madison.

He was born July 26, 1920 in Canton to Gertrude Leona (Baer) & James Monroe Gnagy and married Irma Hensel on July 17, 1954 in Madison.

Mr. Gnagy was a Retired Electrical Engineer.

He was a graduate of Canton McKinley High School in 1938. He worked at the Canton Provision Co. and Republic Steel until he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. Les was assigned to the battleship USS New Jersey, the ?Big J? and was on its maiden voyage through the Panama Canal, making him a ?plank owner?. He was an electrician?s Mate First Class and was honorably discharged in 1946.

Mr. Gnagy then attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. He spent more than 28 years working at Republic Steel in Cleveland as an Electrical Research Engineer, where he developed two patents for the bar mill at the Independence Facility, retiring in 1982. During his retirement, Les spent 22 years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary patrolling Cleveland Harbor. He also enjoyed traveling, photography, scuba diving, ham and maritime radio operation and folk dancing.

He is survived by Wife, Irma Gnagy of Madison; Son, Glenn (Annie) Gnagy of Madison; Granddaughter, Isabel Louise Gnagy; Brother, James (Sharon) Gnagy of Canton, OH; Sisters, Ryllis Guist of Canton, OH and Marcia (Jacob) Egger of Tigard, OR.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends will be received 1- 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2008, at The Behm Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, 26 River Street, Madison, Ohio. Memorial Service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Final Resting Place will be at North Madison Cemetery, Madison

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th St., Cleveland, OH 44119 or your local YMCA.