Joeseph Leisen

Joseph Leisen, 91 of St. Charles died Monday, December 24, 2012 at Golden Living Center in St. Charles.Joe was born August 28, 1921 in Kellogg to John and Eleanor (Eischen) Leisen. While attending high school, Joe would work for area farmers and contribute all the money he earned to help out his family. He graduated from Kellogg High School. Joe was a medic in the United States Army from 1942 - 1945. He was stationed in evacuation hospitals in New Guinea, Quam, Philippines and Japan and earned the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star. On February 14, 1953, he married Kathryn Spitzer at the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. She preceded him in death in 2005. Joe and Kathy eventually bought his parents farm where Joe continued farming until 1985 when he retired and moved with Kathy into St. Charles. In his later years, he volunteered driving senior citizens to clinic and other appointments.He was a member of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, American Legion and the Moose Lodge. Joe enjoyed bowling, belonging to leagues in St. Charles and Chatfield; horseshoes, gambling, cards, especially 500; watching the Minnesota Twins and in his later years, fishing.He is survived by five children, Terry Leisen of Kasson, Jim (Sandy) of St. Charles, Paul (Leah) of Kasson, Dan (Sue) of Rochester and Don of Rochester; twelve grandchildren, Renee (Wynn) Ristau, Brian Burgdorf Jr., Josh (Alanna), Keri & Cody Leisen, Brandon Eidem, Brock & Nicholas Leisen, Sara & Kyle Leisen and Andrew & Matthew Leisen; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters, Dorothy (Myrton) Stoos of Rollingstone, Eleanor (John) Henshaw of Arvada, CO, Joan (Dwight) Gavin of Bossier City, LA and Yvonne (Harold Jr.) McMahan of Brainerd, MN. Joe is preceded in death by his wife, an infant son, two brothers and four sisters.Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m., Sunday, December 30, 2012 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with the Reverend Kurt Farrell officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 - 8 p.m., Saturday at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service in St. Charles and one hour prior to Mass at church. Memorials are preferred to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church or Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.Please share a memory of Joe, sign his online guestbook and view his video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/360026