Leon Roy Bohnsack, was 74 years young, when he passed away unexpectedly Monday, October 27, 2014, at his home in Jordan. The family will greet guests on Thursday, October 30 from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 104 West First Street, Jordan and also one hour prior to the service at church. A Celebration of Life Service will be on Friday, October 31, 2014 at 11 am, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 100 Sixth Street West, Jordan, MN. Pastor Jeremy Glowicki will preside. Matthew Helke, Noah Helke, Troy Schmidt, Kim Schmidt, Roger Bohnsack and Ed Pint will be pall bearers. Leon will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan, MN. Full military honors will be provided by the Jordan Vets Honor Guard.
On October 2, 1940, in New Prague, MN, Leon was born to parents, Herbert and Lillian (Geister) Bohnsack. He was the third of four children. Throughout his life, farming was always in his blood. As a young boy he learned how to milk cows by hand and as he grew, Leon assisted with the field work on his father’s farm and even some of the neighbors. In 1958, he graduated from Jordan High School.
In March of 1959, Leon enlisted into the United States Army. He worked on the war heads, while being stationed in Milwaukee, WI. Returning from the service, Leon begun a 40 year career working for Anchor Glass Company, in Shakopee, from 1963-2003. For many years, he was the warehouse supervisor for the glass factory. But Leon was always drawn back to his roots of farming. He continued spending countless hours tending to the animals and working in the same fields, as a boy, until he sold the family farm in 2003.
While working at the glass factory, Leon met his wife of 45 years, Marion Schmidt. On April 19, 1969, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jordan, MN, they declared their love. Throughout life, they did everything together; working side by side on the farm, seeing the sights of their travels, and going to auctions. Leon and Marion were most proud of being loving parents to Denise, Brian and Tanner. Whenever there was a free moment, Leon and his family enjoyed playing football, basketball and baseball in the yard. For one week each August, the family enjoyed creating special memories on Lake Belle Taine, in Nevis, MN.
Over the years, Leon and his family raised from baby on, thousands of Holstein steers and Black Angus. As a family, they also raised chickens and at times butchering up to a few hundred in a day. Leon also enjoyed raising pigs and ducks too. But his love for farming did not end with the animals. Leon had a special and deep love for his tractors. He especially loved giving his grandchildren rides on the tractors and the four wheelers.
In the early 1990’s, Leon turned an old corn crib into a work shop and his passion of constructing beautiful and unique works of art began. Over the years, he has created and built covered wagons, castles, doll houses, and even a replica of the Jordan Feed Mill Restaurant. Leon also built lawn ornaments like wind mills, log cabins and silhouettes of different birds. His lifelong dream was to buy a house on a lake. In 2001, that dream came true, when Leon and Marion purchased a house on Little Man Trap Lake. There he enjoyed fishing, swimming, attending auctions, ice fishing with his sons and sitting around with family and friends.
Leon was a man with a great personality, a wonderful sense of humor, who always enjoyed the company of others. He was loving, dedicated and would do anything for anyone at any time. Left to honor Leon’s life and mourn the death is his wife, Marion; children, Denise (David) Helke, Brian Bohnsack, Tanner Bohnsack; grandchildren, Matthew Helke, Noah Helke, Sarah Helke, Kylie Bohnsack, Elizabeth Bohnsack, William Bohnsack; brothers, Wayne (Bernice) Bohnsack, Milan (Donna) Bohnsack; sister, Evonne Kipp; nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and devoted friends.
Preceded in death and there to welcome Leon home is his parents; brother-in-law, Roman Kipp; nephew, Bruce Bohnsack.
