Obituary of Leo Mathias Weinandt

Leo Mathias Weinandt passed away Saturday, December 31st, 2016, at Majestic Bluffs in Yankton at the age of 88. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Larry Regynski officiating. Burial of his cremated remains will be 2:00 PM Thursday, January 5, 2017 in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Yankton, SD with military graveside rites by the Ernest Bowyer VFW Post #791 and the SDARNG Honor Guard. Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with a Rosary at 6:45 PM and a Scripture Service following. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Leo was born to Mathias and Cecilia Bichlmeier-Weinandt on January 9th, 1928 in Wynot, Nebraska. Leo led a very busy life. He worked on the home farm throughout his childhood and graduated high school with honors. Leo then moved to Chicago for electrical trade school. After obtaining his degree, Leo returned to run the home farm in the Nebraska. The army drafted Leo during the Korean Conflict. After two years in the army, Leo had attained the rank of staff sergeant. Post-service, he once again returned to Nebraska and married Marie Havermann on September 27th, 1955 in Menominee, Nebraska. The couple moved to Wisconsin to run a dairy farm. Missing family, Leo and Marie moved to Wakonda, South Dakota. Leo and Marie raised their four children on their Wakonda farm. Leo was innovative in his farming. He owned the first electric drying bins in the region and received awards from the FSA for his innovation of terrace farming. After many years of farming, Leo and Marie retired and moved to Yankton, South Dakota where Leo fished, volunteered as a team member at Sacred Heart Hospital for 19 years, and was an active member of the House of Mary Shrine. Leo is survived by his wife, Marie, children Jane (Don) Berrigan of Gonzales, LA, Joyce (Chuck) Lauer of Killen, TX, Steve (Kara) Weinandt of Yankton, Myron (Jen) Weinandt of Battle Creek, NE, and brother-in-law Walt Offner of St Louis, MO. Leo is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are Matt Weinandt, Shawn Berrigan, Christopher Lauer, Nicholas Weinandt, Patrick Weinandt, and Benjamin Weinandt. Leo is preceded in death by his siblings Celestine (Don) Duncan, Loretta (Jim) Wiss, Hildegard (Paul) Bradley, Esmerelda Offner, Clarence (Christine) Weinandt, Viola (Leonard) Sudbeck, Sr. Rita Corinne Weinandt, Clovis (Alice) Weinandt, and two grandchildren Allissa Marie Weinandt and Michelle Theresa Lauer.