Leroy Witzel — Kasson

Leroy Witzel, 89, born Nov. 8, 1925, in Kasson, passed away of natural causes on Thursday, Oct. 29, as a resident of Fairview Nursing Home in Dodge Center. He had been a resident at the home since May 2013.

Leroy was a strong Christian all his life He enjoyed doing things for the church and was one of the early founders of the Community Celebration Church just outside of Kasson.

Leroy owned an operated the Wayne's feed store in Kasson in the early '50s and had a portable feed-grinding business where he would go to local farmers and grind their feed for them. In 1969, Leroy bought a dairy farm in Clear Lake, Wis., where the family farmed until the late '70s. Leroy sold the farm and moved back to southeastern Minnesota and semi-retired; even though he retired he worked for farmers in the area. He worked at the Byron school for a short period and at the local Burger King and Kwik Trip in Kasson until his health started failing, and he decided it was time to fully retire. But he kept very active in his church after his retirement.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Pearl Witzel, of Kasson; a son, Gary Witzel, of Menomonie, Wis.; a daughter-in-law, Korlee (Bethke) Witzel; a daughter, Karen Witzel Wagner of Little Rock, Ark., and son-in-law Bill Wagner; a son, Wayne Witzel of Lake City; and a daughter-in-law, Elaine (Anderson) Witzel; a sister, Doris (Arnold) Severson of Hayfield; and a brother, Dale (Dorthy) Witzel, of Kasson. He is also survived by six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Laura Witzel, of Kasson; and a brother, Donald Witzel of Bryan, Texas; and a great-grandson, Brody Rother, of Hager City, Wis.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Dibble Funeral Home in Kasson, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at Community Celebration Church just outside of Kasson. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Mantorville.

Dibble Funeral Home, 213 West Main, Kasson, is in charge of arrangements.