Jaclen’s Weblog

About Us: Len and Jackie Endres

Len grew up in Chicago with 5 brothers and sisters, and while he was still in his teens, he and his brother-in-law owned a beauty shoppe. It was a booming business until he was drafted in the Army! He thought he’d get to see the world, but the Army sent him to Painesville, Ohio! After the Army, Len worked in the Airline industry, and when he had an opportunity to manage an Airline in Cleveland, he moved East. One day his boss called him and told him another airline would be taking some of his excess counter space, (half), and this young girl who knew absolutely nothing about the airlines, would be attempting to manage it. Since the President of her airline was friends with the President of his airline, they asked Len to train her! (And that’s how he met Jackie!) Two months and a few days later, they were married. That was 39 years ago.

Professionally, Len was in Sales Management for many years, then owned a construction company, and retired from a large Corporation. When he retired, he and Jackie bought a condo on the beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Sadly, right before their move to Florida, Hurricane Ivan, hurricane Dennis, and two more hurricanes changed their retirement plans. Their place was hit hard and needed to be rebuilt. Exhorbitant construction costs drove Len and Jackie back to work. They are very optimistic and happy to have found a way to help others financially, as well as themselves. Len loves to cook and play golf, not necessarily in that order.

Jackie was born in Cheshire, England. As an only child, she sailed to the U.S. with her parents on the Queen Elizabeth II, and wound up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. After college, you already know she managed an airline (Thanks Len). Len and Jackie have 2 sons, and also had 7 foster kids, all girls. Professionally, Jackie spent many years as a College Recruiter. She gave talks to high schools on different vocations, and taught Seminars to college students about ‘Job Interviewing Techniques’. Len and Jackie had a house built to Jackie’s design. It’s in a scenic place in the woods with a lot of wildlife. There’s deer, raccoons, heron, giant woodpeckers and ducks and geese that swim in the creek . It’s very noisy when all the animals return in the Spring!

Jackie loves it when their youngest son takes her for a ride on his Harley. Their oldest son is on the faculty at Penn State. He and his wife are expecting their first child, and this will be Len and Jackie’s first grandchild, a boy, due this summer. Jackie’s hobby is making jewelry, and she wishes she had more time for her “creations”‘. Jackie has always loved animals. She and Len rescued a former racing greyhound and an injured black lab mix. They both were such great dogs who had long lives, and loved to travel! Now they have Ozzie, a long, tall athletic bengal cat who plays “fetch” like a dog, and likes to ride in the car. And Goldie, a beautiful long-haired orange cat they rescued after she was thrown out of a moving car. She doesn’t like to ride in cars.

Jackie and Len began working together when they met, and they still enjoy working together. After cooking for all those years and for 9 kids, Jackie retired her wooden spoons when the nest was empty, and Len took over being resident Chef! Jackie couldn’t be happier about that! Len and Jackie live in Painesville, Ohio, the town where Len was first stationed in the Army nearly 50 years ago!