Leo Markert was my friend. I miss him very much. Who else knew Leo?

I knew Leo.I visited him when I lived in Indiana.I shot quite a few bows and conversed with him and his wife and daughter.I had a nice evening with him.He had so many nice longbows and many were not from very well known Bowyers.He had very good taste in longbows as you know.

He was a physically imposing man who pulled heavy bows.I was glad to meet him and hope his family is doing well without their rock at their side.

I would have liked to share a camfire with him and muse about things.

Our meeting was brief but I remember it like it was yesterday.

Sorry your friend has passed.But I am sure you are a better man from knowing him.

Aim your arrows at the sun

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I just lost a good friend today. Never knew Leo but I know the pain of losing a good friend far too soon. I will aim an arrow at the sun tomorrow for Leo and another for my friend Brad.

DDave

I knew Leo! He actually found me. I was working midnights at the time and decided to hunt Jasper Pulaski Fish and game area. This was probably about 1986. It was a nice day, around 65 degrees. In the middle of the day I set up my camo netting and was hoping to take a nap and maybe wake up and find a deer at about 10 yards that would let me get up and shoot it. Anyway, there I was laying down sleeping when I hear, "You can't kill any deer when you're sleeping!" That's when I met Leo. He and Harold Larson were stilhunting together. Since that time we were good friends and shot together many times. He usually shot every other Sunday at Deep River Bowmen where I was a member. He shot every Sunday somewhere. He shot heavy Hill bows usually drawing 90 lbs even when he was in his 70's I think.

Leo was a beast of a man. We never physically met. We talked on the phone often. He would go on various rants, LOL. He’d end every conversation with “I am an old man and maybe I talk too much”.

He was my mentor and a living encyclopedia of archery. I just want his memory to live on. God Bless Mary, too.

Sometimes it is hard to see your good hunting buddies leave. Two years ago we lost Ronnie and this year Ed went to a better place. Just part of the cycle of life. Rest in Peace Brothers.

I did not know him but for a reason I can't remember I talked to him about 30 minutes on the phone one. Would like to have met him.

We were phone friends for little awhile then I lost track of him. This was a couple decades ago now and I think we met over a longbow ad. He liked heavy bows and that's probably how we got acquainted. Lots of folks in this world that we never meet personally but can admire for their respect and character.

Leo was a good man. When its all said and done, that's really all I wish to be said about me when I move on. Did enjoy speaking with him when he was with us.

Leo was a good guy. Used to shoot with him and at club shoots. Even in his older days he could still shoot heavy poundage longbows with ease.

I knew Leo from when I was in my heavy bow phase, a phase that comes and goes. Its actually kind of funny, he had a sometimes prickly personality on the forums and we first got acquainted when he PMd me with a kind of angry rant that one of my bow for sale ads sounded like a used car salesman, we argued about it a bit and I managed to convince him that I was just very descriptive in my ads and really love bows so I tend to wax poetic about them. I mean I REALLY love bows and hunting. Anyway, when he realized how sincere I was he completely did a 180 and was the nicest guy. We ended up speaking on the phone and for a young 30s age fella who is an old soul it was a treat. Just an archery guru that guy. I remember this one time he was interested in a bow I had and wanted to do some trading. He practically offered me a freshwater fishing STORE worth of stuff. Alas I needed the cash and knew it would be a lot of work to sell all the fishing stuff, so I had to so refuse him but I was blown away by how lopsided the trade would have been, aka his generosity. He was one cool old dude. He lives on through stuff like this. Memory is immortality.

Yes, I knew Leo and miss him,too. Our phone conversations are really missed. (I called him sasquatch, because only a sasquatch could pull the heavy bows he shot!)

I never met Leo but had many conversations with him. Like Matt said, when he had to come up for air, he'd say, "Anyways, I talk too much". In a few minutes, he'd start in again. LOL!

I learned a lot from Leo. He was a wealth of information. Justin helped me get his LH Hill back quiver from Mary after he died. I also sent a special broadhead arrow for his commemorative quiver.

I miss that guy! I had a lot of respect for him for many reasons. I still have a voice message from him on my phone that I listen to from time to time when I need a smile.

Cant say I knew him but wish I had..... a reply up above said they just wanted him to be remembered. Sounds like he was big on helping other archers. Do so like he did .....

I bought, traded bows with Leo for many years " he loved his Jack Harrisons so and I always made a point of finding one he couldn't live with out, last trade I made with him was for a century 21 and money can't touch it , Leo was a great example of what is good with traditional archery

Sux losing friends I just lost my buddy at 34 he was my helper. I still can't grip it that he is gone. If he was still around no matter what condition I'm in he would help me get out. No matter what.

I don't even want to do anything without him. The older we get the more friends we will loose but I never expected a 34 yo all muscled up and strong like you could not believe. He was kinda like a son and I was a father figure to him . I was like that to him I felt as well.

God bless all our friends and family's we lose. It affects us dearly.

Never met Leo, but sold him a heavier L/B once, he said now don’t you think I can’t pull this cause I can, think it was in the 70#s , he also explained to me how to pack it up and to wrap cardboard over the tips !! Yep, good good man !!

I can't say that I knew him, but we traded bows on a couple of occasions and exchanged emails for a couple of years. I always thought he had a good sense of humor.

He obviously didn’t know I’ve sold many many bows and knew how to pack em(lol) but I said ok sir, yeah, you could tell he was definitely one of the GOOD ones !!! RIP sir .......

I shot with Leo every week for about 11 years. He was a great friend and mentor. I was with him a few hours before he died. Saying goodbye to him was extremely difficult. I’ll never forget when Mary (his wife) called and told me to come and say goodbye to him. He knew it was the end. He had returned home from the hospital the day before and started hospice care. He refused all medication. He went out as tough as he was in real life. I could go on for hours with stories of some of our shooting adventures. He took me under his wing as a young 21 year old kid and showed me the ropes. He had me selling used bows for his archery business and he had me selling brand new longbows for jack Harrison. It was a real pleasure dealing with new archery people just about daily selling new and used bows. We sold hundreds upon hundreds of longbows and recurves. I truly miss him and I think about him daily. I have an old voicemail on my phone from him that I listen to every now and then when I’m having a bad day. It’s him all excited and he’s telling me about a new longbow he had just picked up and how it was in immaculate condition haha! He is truly missed.

Yes Leo we talked about high poundage bows. I would call talk to him bought some bows from him great person.! God bless him

Sitting here at my desk this morning I now remember Leo. I too had talked to Leo about a Harrison bow that I was buying. Wow Leo I can't believe I just remembered him. What was I thinking. Meds have eaten my mind and getting older fast.

Very knowledgeable and was a great conversation. Somewhere along the line the Harrison bows didn't register.

The best....RIP friend.

I dealt with Leo for many years. Bought , sold and traded many bows with him. Thousands of dollars worth and he was always a gentleman to deal with. Never worried about sending him expensive bows because he was a man of his word. I miss dealing with people like that. Justin and Marlon are 2 other good men I will not hesitate to do business with. Fine men also. Butch NM

I met Leo in the mid-90's. Like clockwork, he almost never missed a 3D shoot at my club so we had many conversations over the years. He sure loved his heavy longbows. RIP my friend.

So sorry. May his memory be eternal. George

Leo and I made several bow trades over the years, all done over the phone. I’m not sure how many total hours we talked, but I enjoyed every conversation. One of the talks I clearly remember. It was night time for both of us. I asked Leo if the bow arrived ok, and he said he just now strung it, and was getting ready to shoot it. I asked if he had a lighted area outside, and he said “no, I just stand in the hallway, and shoot across my living room”. I told him we had very different wives.

I bought a kids bow from Leo, and went to his home which was in homewood il. I was there for a couple of hours and could have stayed longer talking about bows and hunting. He showed me his bows and I was impressed by the weight of his bows, I could not pull them. Enjoyed our meeting and it was a shock to hear shortly there after that he had been diagnosed and then passed.

I too never met Mr Leo in person, talked on the phone for hours,Leo was the most generous man I've ever met,we started a archery program for the kid's in the community at church,he donated so much equipment,never took a dime,he loved helping the kid's,I was going to take Leo and Justin elk hunting but it never worked out,I was really looking forward to meeting Mr Leo,I sure miss talking to Mr Leo dearly,I miss you man!

Steve, good to hear from you! Man that elk hunt brings up some memories. Leo was so flabbergasted by that offer that it really surprised me it never happened. He talked about it almost daily and purchased all kinds of gear for the hunt. He was very excited about that offer! I wish we could have made it happen!

Me too I was looking forward too meeting you guy's,did Leo ever show you the video I sent him where I was going to take you guy's? Take care buddy,aim small miss small.

I too, had many phone conversations with Leo!!!Leo, said liked my hunting style!!! Which mentor lot!!! Leo, also claimed the Shults made " Big Five" I sent him was the best one he ever had the pleasure of shooting and owning!!! I am glad our dealings were always positive!!! I know we would have enjoyed each other's company!!! And yes we are all blessed to have known him, even in our limited capacity!!! Test in peace!!!!!! very humbly Jacques

I hate the auto correct!!!

I too, had many phone conversations with Leo!!!Leo, said liked my hunting style!!! Which mentor lot!!! Leo, also claimed the Shults made " Big Five" I sent him was the best one he ever had the pleasure of shooting and owning!!! I am glad our dealings were always positive!!! I know we would have enjoyed each other's company!!! And yes we are all blessed to have known him, even in our limited capacity!!! Rest in peace!!!!!! very humbly Jacques

I don’t know if I ever did see that video steve. I can’t remember.

Must have missed this due to a trip out of Country. Sorry to hear about Leo. He was a Character in Archery that will be missed.

Bought a couple bows from him, and spoke on the phone, but not enough to be considered close friends. They don't make em like that anymore. RIP

same here I bought and traded with him,, I think we first spoke when this forum first opened,,, Old school LW that's for sure... God Bless his Memory...

I knew Leo from this website. He was a great person.

I only knew him from phone conversations but he was a very warm and open man with an encyclopedic knowledge of archery and he loves to share this knowledge. He made me feel like we were long time friends. I wish I could have met the man.

It warms my heart that so many knew him and respected him. Merry Christmas to Leo, you magnificent bastard!

I bought a 75# LB from Leo a number of yrs ago that he also replaced the wrap w/ buffalo. I thought about selling a few times but just can't do it. We spoke on the phone a few times. Always impressed me as a knowledgeable sincere guy.

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