Leonard Wiegrefe
Leonard W. Wiegrefe, 95, of Eitzen, MN passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at Caledonia Care and Rehab in Caledonia, MN. Memorial services were held Saturday, June 11 at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Eitzen, MN, with Pastor Michael McCann officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Leonard was born February 24, 1921 in Winnebago Township, MN to Herman and Ella (Beneke) Wiegrefe. August 8, 1944, he married Lillie Reinke at St. John’s United Church of Christ, rural New Albin and they shared 70 years of marriage together.
Leonard and Lillie farmed in Union City Township, rural New Albin, until their retirement in 1983, when they moved to Eitzen, MN. During their time in Eitzen, Leonard worked for Wiebke Fur Company for about ten years. He also worked for the City of Eitzen for ten years and also cleaned up the Eitzen Community Center after events.
Once a month Sunday afternoons, Leonard and Lillie greeted visitors at the Eitzen Museum. They were one of four or five couples who did this on a rotating basis. Leonard also delivered meals to senior citizens for the South East Minnesota Senior Citizens Organization for many years. After living in Eitzen, MN for 30 years, they moved to Caledonia, MN in January of 2013, where they lived at Buckley Assisted Living. September 4, 2014, Lillie preceded Leonard in death.
Leonard was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ (UCC) in rural New Albin and then St. Luke’s UCC in Eitzen, MN. He served as a school board member for the Eastern Allamakee School District for many years and was president for a number of years. Leonard also was a member of the Eitzen Lions and enjoyed attending events and parades. He enjoyed times spent at Senior Citizens, playing cards every week, and watching baseball on the television.
Survivors include a son, Lee (Diane) Wiegrefe of Austin, TX; a daughter, Susan (Don) Fleege of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Dawn (Will) Sears, Dan Wiegrefe, Jennifer (Mike) Heilman, Karen (Adam) Jones and Sara (Jason) Johnson; 11 great-grandchildren, Sydney, Tyler and Megan Sears, Lilly and Tempe Heilman, Chelsea and Logan Jones, Jovie, Hayden and Morgan Johnson, and Annika Wiegrefe; one sister, Margaret (Jack) Nelson of Caledonia, MN; and one brother, Lester Wiegrefe of Caledonia, MN.
In addition to his wife, Leonard was preceded in death by his sister, Marie (Neil) Comstock; and one sister-in-law, Charlotte Wiegrefe.
Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia Chapel assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com.
