Leroy Witzel, 89, Kasson

Leroy H. Witzel, 89, passed away of natural causes on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015 as a resident of Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center. He had been a resident there since May of 2013. Leroy was born on Nov. 8, 1925. He was a strong Christian all his life. Leroy enjoyed doing things for the church and was one of the early founders of the Community Celebration Church just outside of Kasson. Leroy owned and 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. In 1969, Leroy bought a dairy farm in Clear Lake, Wisconsin where the family farmed until the late 70s. Leroy sold the farm and moved back to Southeast Minnesota and semi-retired. Even though he retired, he worked for farmers in the area, at the Byron school for a short period of time and at both the Burger King and Kwik Trip in Kasson. Eventually, his health started failing, and he decided it was time to fully retire. He remained very active in his church after his retirement. Leroy is survived by his wife, Pearl Witzel of Kasson; sons Gary (Korlee Bethke) Witzel of Menomonie, Wisconsin and Wayne (Elaine Anderson) Witzel of Lake City, Minnesota; daughter Karen (Bill) Wagner of Little Rock, Arkansas; sister Doris (Arnold) Severson of Hayfield and brother Dale (Dorthy) Witzel of Kasson. He is also survived by six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Laura Witzel of Kasson; brother Donald Witzel of Bryan, Texas and a great-grandson, Brody Rother of Hager City, Wisconsin.In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials for them to distribute per their wishes at a later time.Funeral services will be held (today) Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 11a.m. at the Community Celebration Church, 27337 County Highway 34, Kasson, with Pastor Steve Larson officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Mantorville.Dibble Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be placed at www.dibblefuneralhome.com.