Leo E. Schroepfer
Leo E. Schroepfer, 91, of Sleepy Eye, died peacefully on May 23, 2020, at the Sleepy Eye Medical Center, after a 25 yr. battle with multiple health issues.
Due to the Corona virus regulations a Private Funeral Mass will be held at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye, on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 1:30 pm.
Service may be viewed at https:www.facebook.com/
Interment will be at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye.
Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Memorials are preferred to the Adopt-A-Student program or family wishes.
Leo was born on May 12, 1929, in Mulligan Township to Leo A. and Wilhelmina Schroepfer (Seidl). He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1947, as did all of his children and step-children. Leo was joined in marriage to Phyllis Schumacher on Sept. 6, 1949 at the Church of Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. They farmed ten miles south of Sleepy Eye, having both dairy cows and crops. Leo also loved driving school bus for the Sleepy Eye Bus Lines for 23 yrs., well into his retirement. Phyllis also had her license to drive in the event there were crops for Leo to plant or harvest. Besides raising crops, Leo and Phyllis raised six children on the farm: Linda (Mike Seifert), of Sleepy Eye, Dan Schroepfer of New Ulm, Debbie (Jim Kuderer) of Mankato, Laurie (Glenn) Sieve of St. James, Lisa (Perry Pietig) of Sleepy Eye, and Dohn Schroepfer of Sleepy Eye. Leo often said how proud he was of all of his children and their accomplishments. In July of 1978, Phyllis died at the age of forty-nine. Leo later married Lorraine VanKeulen at St. Mary’s Church on Aug. 3, 1979. Leo and Lorraine lived in Sleepy Eye and Leo continued farming the land. Lorraine had four children: Cynthia (Scott) Surprenant, Paul (Denise) VanKuelen, Mary (Paul) Thomas, and Kathy (Mark) Haug. To top off the family, Leo and Lorraine had another son, Dustin (Jessi) Schroepfer in 1980. Leo enjoyed family holiday get together’s, annual family vacations at a lake resort, numerous trips, coffee with the guys, fishing, the Twins and the Vikings and smoking his signature pipe. In his retirement years you could spot him driving his van on the way out of town to check the crops with his well-loved little white Maltese, Dasa. Leo felt pride in being able to contribute his talents while serving on the Soil and Water Conservation Board for 18 years. He also served on the FMHA board. He served St. Mary’s School and Church as the Board Chairman of the Parish Council. When families needed financial help in order to send their children to St. Mary’s School, Leo presented the “Adopt-A-Student” plan to the board in 1980.The “Adopt-A-Student” program still exists today. Leo was also a member of F.M.H.A. and the Knights of Columbus. Leo will be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine, the aforementioned children and step-children and spouses, 13 grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 2 step-great grandchildren, sisters Phyllis Stoneberg, Mary Alice Berberich and Diane Heiderscheidt.. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis, his parents, Leo A. and Wilhelmina, his brother, Darrell (Florence), his sister, Doris( Eddie Huiras) and brothers-in-law Dennis Stoneberg, Lenny Berberich, and James Manderfeld, and Don Schumacher.
