Leslee C. Pope

Obituary's Biography:

Leslee C. Pope passed away at the age 63. She born in Chicago and moved to Glenview IL when she was 8 then moved to Grayslake, Illinois in the late 1980’s where she passed at her home on February 17, 2025, she was 63.

Born Leslee Weiner on June 16, 1961, she was the only child of loving parents Josefine and Bernard Weiner.

Leslee attended grade and high school in Glenview.  Worked at Dominick to help pay her way with Northern Illinois and Loyola Universities where she studied. She attended St Catherine Church where she was involved with chirp program and met then Deacon Tom now Most Reverend Thomas Paprocki Bishop of Springfield, they have remained friends. Leslee developed a love and passion for animals early in life, she started showing hunters and jumpers, after a few years a back injury from a horse refusing a jump required her to change direction with animals and she got involved in purebred dog showing staring with Labrador Retrievers. Leslee believed in being the best so with Dick Cooper she got her start. Leslee established Huntcrest Labradors and Cavilers as her kennel name for her breeding program.  

Leslee and David met in 1994 and were marred September 14, 1996 in Grayslake and have been a loving, and supportive team since. She did not have children. All of her beloved dogs are her kids. Leslee had passion for Caviler King Charles Spaniels and was heavily involved in this breed AKC and CKCSCUSA 1998. She has been very successful breeding and showing Cavilers with finishing around 30 champions with some of the best handlers help getting her dogs to the winning circle.

Leslee achieved numerous obedience titles and about 30 championship titles on her Labradors US and Canada and attend about 100 shows a year. She was very involved with The Seeing Guide Dogs and Morris Animal Foundation, where she was regional chair person in 1987 and named its outstanding volunteer of the year and worked with and met Betty White, who would ask Leslee to lend her a Labrador named Regent to appear on a news morning show with her when Betty was in Chicago. Leslee had numerous service and guide dogs. She contributed to several breeding programs with breeding stock and puppy donations.

Leslee is an AKC Breeder of Merit in Labradors and Cavilers. She is a member of several dog clubs from Labrador, Cavilers and all breed. Leslee helped found and was a past president of the local AKC CKCCGC club. She has been involved with many specialty and all breed clubs. Leslee liked to sing, and she belonged to the St Gilberts church choir and sang the national anthem for very large dog show at the Stevenson Exhibition center. She often sang to her Cavilers and they just stood at attention watching her.        

Leslee worked for State farm Insurance in different agents offices for over 25 years. Leslee loved working with clients and consider them as friends as well. 

She is survived by her loving husband David Pope, Cousin Dan, one Labrador Nordic, a number of Cavilers, a Great Pyrenees Fluffy and her many amazing friends around the world.      

Visitation will be held at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Sunday, February 23, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM located at 410 East Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL. 60030.

Church Service will be held at St Gilbert Church on February 24, 2025. from 11:00 AM located at 301 East Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL. 60030. The service will be live streamed. Procession to Ascension Cemetery 1920 Buckley Rd. Libertyville.

St Gilbert website to view. https://youtube.com/channel/UCMP0PFhS_wyXxgsTzbPEEyw

In lieu of flowers, memorial donation can be made to the following.

 Morris Animal Foundation 720 S Colorado Blvd #174a, Denver, CO 80246 (800) 243-2345

or

AKC Reunite Canine Support and Relief Fund.www.akcreunite.org/donate/