Larry A. Leonard

Larry Allen Leonard, 77, of Fairbury Nebraska, ended his life’s journey in the same home to which he was born on Saturday, September 27, 2014 after a brief period of heart problems. Born in Fairbury Nebraska to Ernest Jesse Leonard and Gladys Ethel Craig, Larry was a lifetime resident of Jefferson County, Nebraska.

Larry graduated from Fairbury Junior Senior High School in 1955 and attended one year of college before deciding to go into farming with his father. Larry farmed east of Fairbury until he retired from farming his “Por Boy Farm” in 2002. In the early lean years of farming, Larry worked for periods of time at Endicott Clay Products, O.K. Tire Shop and with other farmers in the area. When not farming, Larry would take his family boating and camping or on trips around the western United States. Not one to sit still in retirement, Larry would make his morning rounds to the Co-op and Post Office in Jansen, the Wellness center in the afternoons and visits to friends in the hospital or nursing home. Larry was always ready with a conversation and was quick with a smile.

Larry was extremely loving and proud of his children, JayDe Leonard, of San Francisco, and Shannon Schroeder and her husband Craig, of Fairbury. Larry is survived by his special friend, Carmen Schroeder of Fairbury; by his sisters Donna Bodamer, of Kansas City Missouri, and Jacelyn (Jackie) Stephenson and her husband Keith, of Estes Park Colorado; granddaughters Sydney Schroeder of Kearney, Morgan Schroeder of Lincoln, Taylor Schroeder of Fairbury and Heather Watson and her husband Dan, of Fairbury; 3 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild as well as many loving nieces, nephews and other friends. Larry was pre-deceased by parents, Ernest Leonard and Gladys Leonard, his first wife Carol Spickelmier, mother of his two children, and his second wife of 42 years, Donna Everhart Weier.

The family will receive friends on Thursday October 2, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home, 2414 H Street, Fairbury Nebraska. Services will be held at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral home on Friday October 3, 2014 at 11:00 with lunch to follow next door at the Presbyterian Church.

The family has set up a memorial with the Jefferson County Health Care Fund to benefit the Burkley Wellness Center where Larry found much enjoyment during his retirement. Checks can be made out to the Jefferson Health Care Fund noting Larry Leonard in the memo line.