The family of South Kitsap’s Leroy Visser is grieving again just eight months after his death.
That’s because Leroy’s 1931 charcoal gray Model A was reported stolen Aug. 2.
Leroy’s brother, Vance, said he was informed by a neighbor that the gate on the 5-acre property owned by Leroy “was torn down and the garage was broken into. It was from a very intent neighbor that got the ball rolling.”
A Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputy confirmed the Model A was missing.
Vance said he and his older brother had a passion for vintage cars and worked on many together. The Model A was purchased, Vance said, when they visited a shop with 14-16 cars years ago during a family reunion in northwest Washington.
“It was tucked way back in the corner of the shop,” he said. “It was like a magnet. Leroy had to have it.”
The Model A, which had a small plaque hanging in the back, was Leroy’s favorite car before he died of natural causes two days before his 80th birthday in December.
“He actually used it more often than the new pickup he has,” Vance said. “Anytime it wasn’t raining he was driving his Model A.”
Leroy worked as a meat-market manager before his retirement. He also was a culinary instructor at Bates Technical College in Tacoma.
“He would even go over to McNeil Island [Corrections Center] and give instructions to inmates,” Vance said. “My son calls him kind of a current cowboy. He was a really giving guy. If you needed something he would be there for you.”
Now, the family just hopes the car is returned. Vance said he and Leroy’s two children — Brent and Pam — are “heartbroken” about the theft because of the vehicle’s sentimental value.
A Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputy took fingerprints Aug. 3 on Leroy’s garage door, but Vance said it appears the perpetrator left little evidence behind.
Despite that, he is hopeful that someone will notice the vehicle.
“A car like LeRoy’s, because it’s so unique, I would suspect it’s on a container to Florida or overseas,” Vance said. “There’s just too many people that knew LeRoy and knew me.”
Anyone with information on Leroy’s car is encouraged to call the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office at 360-337-7101.
