Leslie Tincknell

Leslie “Les” Dean Tincknell, age 94, of Saginaw, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family at his home on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. The son of Howard and Florence (Gillespie) Tincknell, Les was born on October 12, 1929, in Romeo, Michigan. He met Marion Frahm in 1953 and they were married on June 25, 1955. They shared 70 years with one another and 68 years of marriage.

Les graduated from Romeo High School as co-valedictorian in 1947. He started his university studies, but then was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War from 1951-53. He was based at Fort Totten on Long Island, where he met Marion. He graduated from the University of Michigan College of Architecture with a Bachelor of Architecture and Tau Sigma Delta honors in 1958. That year, he joined the firm of Frederick E. Wigen, Architect, where he served first as Director of Design and then as President of Wigen, Tincknell, Meyer & Associates. In 1995, he received the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Michigan, the highest award by the Institute to an individual architect, and in 1996, he was inducted into the national AIA's College of Fellows for his contributions in design, education, and service. In 2016, the Michigan Architectural Foundation awarded him the Leadership Award for his years of service to the Foundation's mission. In addition to his professional achievements, he was very active in the Saginaw community and served as President or Chairman of the Optimist Club, American Red Cross, Saginaw Arts and Enrichment Commission, Saginaw Riverfront Development Commission, Golfside Community, First Congregational Church, Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Art Museum, PRIDE in Saginaw, Inc., and the Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House, and Gardens. In 2010, he was awarded the Robert Alpine Lifetime Community Service Award by the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, and in 2014, he was honored as the Child Advocate of the Year by the Saginaw County Child Abuse and Neglect Council.

Les is survived by his beloved wife, Marion Tincknell; loving children, Mark Tincknell, Paul (Jennifer) Tincknell, Karen (Donald Gibbons) Tincknell, and Lisa (Jeffrey) Levangie; dear grandchildren, Devin (Lisa Ann Markuson) Person, Ian (Madeline Serpe) Tincknell, Colin (Emily Peterson) Tincknell, James (Cece) Tincknell, Peter Tincknell, Kiara Tincknell, Alia Tincknell, Leah Gibbons, Aidan Gibbons, Galen Gibbons, Kristi (Eric) Anderson, Ashley Levangie (Montana Smallman), Luke Levangie, and Bret Levangie; great-granddaughter, Juniper; several nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert Tincknell, Kathryn Howard, Donna Mitchell, and Glenn Tincknell; and his parents, Howard and Florence Tincknell.

Memorial Visitation will be held February 24, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until time of Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 403 S. Jefferson Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48607. Rev. Robert Emrich will officiate. Interment will take place at Romeo Cemetery, Romeo, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Les may be made to the Leslie D. Tincknell Scholarship Fund at the Michigan Architectural Foundation, 37637 Five Mile Road, #399, Livonia, MI 48254 or the Saginaw Arts and Enrichment Commission, 120 Ezra Rust Drive, Saginaw, MI 48601.

For information, please call Fischer Family Funeral Services at (989) 755-8277. To express your condolences, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com.