Leander Breitbach

Leander J. "Lee" Breitbach, age 85 of Elrosa, died peacefully surrounded by his family Friday, June 19, 2015 at CentraCare Health Hospital in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 24 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery with military honors provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church in Elrosa. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Leander Joseph Breitbach was born September 15, 1929 in Lake George Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Mathias and Mathilda (Koll) Breitbach. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Haskamp on September 6, 1954 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre.

Lee was a lifelong resident of Elrosa. He had been a carpenter starting at the early age of 13 years and co-owned and worked with his parents and brothers of Breitbach Construction Company. He retired in 1985.

He loved the city of Elrosa and cruising around town on his scooter. He served on the Elrosa Volunteer Fire Department as the assistant chief from 1954 to 1984. He was a past president of the Elrosa Commercial Club and Elrosa Baseball, and was named to the Elrosa Hall of Fame as a baseball player.

Lee loved working with wood and was a handyman that enjoyed his new tools. He liked coffee in the morning, a game of Bar Rummy and Skit, spear fishing, and going to the casino. He always enjoyed watching Elrosa Saints baseball. He loved spending time with his family but especially with his grand and great-grandchildren.

Lee was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, had served on the parish council, and for several years served as adult mass server for funerals. He was also a member of St. James Catholic United, Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853, American Legion Post 67, Elrosa Senior Citizens, and served on the Advisory Board of Stearns Electric Cooperative, and was a past president of the Greenwald Lions Club.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Breitbach of Elrosa; four sons, Vernon (Della) Breitbach of Melrose, Robert (Edna) Breitbach of Sauk Centre, Michael (Jean) Breitbach of Sauk Centre, and Randy (Maria) Breitbach of Indianapolis, Indiana; seven grandchildren; two great-grandsons; brothers and sisters, Mary Ann (Melvin) Hoeschen of Detroit Lakes, Mathias (Alice) Breitbach of Sauk Centre, Irene (Lorman) Henry of Sauk Centre, Betty (Dennis) Froh of Sauk Centre, Marlene Bromen of Cincinnati, Ohio; sisters-in-law, Rosella Breitbach of Paynesville, and Margaret Breitbach of Elrosa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Sylvester & Herbert Breitbach; brothers-in-law, Marvin Bromen, Ervin Haskamp, and Othmar Haskamp; and sister-in-law, Josephine Breitbach
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Serving as casket bearers will be Mark and Dick Breitbach, Daryl, Mark, and John Haskamp, and Pat Henry. Cross bearer will be Robert Breitbach, scripture bearer will be Rosa Breitbach, lector will be Sharon Breitbach, petitions will be read by Alyssa Breitbach, and gift bearers will be Hannah and Josh Breitbach. Honorary bearers will be members of the Elrosa Volunteer Fire Department.