Leander Groetsch

Leander J. Groetsch, age 82 of Sauk Centre, died on Monday, June 7, 2004 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 11 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre for. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Sauk Centre Seniors will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5:15 p.m. and St. Paul's Catholic Aid at 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home in Sauk Centre.

Leander Groetsch was born on February 12, 1922 in Albany, Minnesota to Anton and Susanna (Kammers) Groetsch. On May 13, 1947 he was united in marriage to Erma Tschida at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. He was employed by Swift and Company and later by Blattner Construction. The couple farmed near Albany and then near Sauk Centre, in Getty Township, Stearns County, for forty years. He retired in 1994 and they moved to Sauk Centre in 2002.He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, St. Paul's Catholic Aid, Sauk Centre Seniors and was a former member of the Farmers Union. He had served as a Getty Township supervisor for many years. Leander enjoyed his grandchildren, hunting and fishing and farming.

Survivors include his wife, Erma Groetsch of Sauk Centre; three sons, Kenneth (Florence) Groetsch, Dennis (Alice) Groetsch and Randy (Marlene) Groetsch, all of Sauk Centre; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Lucille (George) Hondl, Lorraine (Donald) Voit, Clarence Groetsch and Alfred (Rita) Groetsch, all of Albany, Walter (Clare) Groetsch of Avon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Susanna (Kammers) Groetsch; brothers, Anthony, Wilfred and Elmer Groetsch; sister, Mary Catherine and infant sister, Rita.

Casket bearers will be his grandsons, Jonathan, Jamey, Joel, Joshua, Kevin and Corey Groetsch with Matthew Groetsch serving as cross bearer.