Joseph Leach

Joseph W. "Joe" Leach, age 78 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, March 23, 2012 at his home in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 28 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Military honors will be by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard. Private inurnment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Melrose at a later date.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Joseph W. Leach was born October 17, 1933 in Sauk Centre. He was raised by Nathan and Hannah (Tolson) Leach and later by his step-father, Charlie Dempewolf. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. On December 27, 1955 he married Alverna Bruns in Worthington, MN. He graduated from Mankato State University and Worthington Junior College. The couple moved to Melrose where Joe began teaching art at the Melrose High School in 1959. He retired in 1991 and started his business Dunghanrach Pottery. He sold his pottery at various art shows including the Renaissance Art Fair for 30 years. Joe was an avid collector and carver of spearing decoys; one is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050, American Legion Post 101, and the Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Association.

Survivors include his children, Rick (Teresa) Leach of St. Cloud, Ron (Lori) Leach of Sauk Centre, Rob (Mindy) Leach of Sauk Centre, Suki (Mike) Mills of Freeport, and Joe (Barb) Leach of St. Cloud; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother, Chuck (Candice) Dempewolf of Alexandria; and sister, Joanne Mueller of Corvalis, Oregon.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Alverna Leach on March 3, 2006; step-parents, Nathan Leach, Charlie and Hannah Dempewolf.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Michael's Hospice and the Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Association.

Serving as casket bearers will be Marshall Johnson, Charlie Dempewolf, Dave Anderson, Jeff Lovelace, Dennis Bertram, and Ron Kettler. Cross bearer will be Ernie Bergeron and scripture bearer will be Irish Bergeron. Gift bearers will be Danelle Reiter and Kenzie Mills. Petitions will be read by Ellen Leach. Readers will be Mary Schad and Kate Fahrner Westermeyer.

We love you, and we'll miss you and just remember, "You're a good man, Gunga Din".