Leo Edward Lau

Leo was born on July 1,1943 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was the second of four children born to Helene (Chow) and Walter Lau. He attended St. Louis School, graduating in 1961 as the last class of “Twelve Year Men”. While at St. Louis, he played football and baseball. He attended Chaminade University in Honolulu before transferring and graduating with a degree in Accounting from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA.

Leo joined the Air Force in 1966 and served as a Weapons Controller before being selected for flight school. His first flying assignment was flying the O-2A Skymaster in support of the Vietnam War. There, he flew 209 combat missions as a Forward Air Controller, with almost as many stories to tell. After nearly nine years of active duty, Leo separated from the Air Force and continued work as an accountant for the Department of Defense, where he worked until his retirement in 2012.

His early work as a civil servant took him to Seoul, Korea where he met and married his wife, Sarah (aka “Gina”). Leo passed away just weeks short of celebrating their 44th wedding anniversary. Together, they had five children whom they raised mostly in Korea. He was a man of few words, but of great acts. In watching him, his children have learned some of life’s most important lessons: how to drive stick shift, what steadfast faith and an unwavering dedication to family looks like, and the importance of serving others towards a greater good. He was selfless in every way.

In retirement and with an empty nest, Leo enjoyed attending daily mass (almost always preceded by a stroll around Don Quijote to pick up little gifts or snacks), lunches at Zippy’s, and watching football. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed many simple pleasures--morning walks, recording and documenting life’s activities, cookies and cream ice cream, peanut butter cookies, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Despite his typical stoicism and quiet nature, his often-present smile is something we will always love and remember.

Preceded in death by:

Helene E. Chow (mother)

Walter K. Lau (father)

Survived by:

Sarah Lau (wife)

Children: Jessica Borrman, Theresa Borowiecki, Walter Lau, Kathleen Gause, and Joseph Lau

Grandchildren: Analise, Vivienne, Benjamin, Nora, Claire, Isabella, Alexandra, Caius, Augustine,

and Ignatius

Siblings: Helene Lau, Rosemarie Tom and Winifred Chung

A Celebration of Life and Funeral Mass will be held on March 15, 2023. Internment at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Please email laul1961@yahoo.com to request details or share your memories of Leo.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Charities Hawaii or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, two of Leo’s many favorite charity organizations.