Leroy John Sporleder

PIERCE -- Funeral service for Leroy John Sporleder, 80, of Pierce, will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Pierce. Rev. Jacob Tuma will be officiating the service. Interment will be at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Pierce. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, also at St. John's Lutheran Church. The service will be live-streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stonacekfuneralchapel/. Military rites will be conducted by the Tomek-Otto Post #72 American Legion Pierce, NE and the United States Army Honors Guard. Leroy passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024 at the Premier Estates in Pierce. Stonacek Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Leroy John Sporleder was born on April 22, 1944 at home in rural Pierce to Roy and Sarah (Schiffner) Sporleder. Leroy was baptized on May 28, 1944, and confirmed on June 1, 1958 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pierce. He attended rural country school and graduated from Pierce High School in 1962. Leroy joined the US Army in 1964 serving with the 28th Infantry Big Red One during the Vietnam War and was discharged on February 10, 1966. On September 4, 1965, he married Brenda Behnke at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pierce. They were married fifty-nine years. They were blessed with three children: Michele, Russell, and Steve. Leroy was a farmer at heart. He milked cows for many years as well as raising many other animals. Leroy also worked putting up Chief Grain Bins. He then finished his working career at Farmer’s Pride in Pierce. He worked there for thirty plus years before retiring. Leroy played a lot of slow pitch softball as the pitcher. His uniform was his black jeans, penny loafers, and whatever shirt he liked. He was the oldest player on the team of young guys including both of his sons and a lot of their friends. Leroy is survived by his wife Brenda, daughter Michele, sons Russell (Robyne) Sporleder, and Steve (Jamie) Sporleder, grandchildren Austin, Alexis, and Addison Sporleder. His sister Betty (Gerald) Hixson of Pierce, Joyce Synovec of Kansas City, Kansas, and Jerry (Judy) Sporleder of Lodi, California, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his faithful friends Buster his dog and Jr. his cat. He is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Sarah Sporleder, in-laws Lowell and Opal Behnke, grandson Jayden Sporleder, brothers-in-law Bruce Behnke and Larry Miller, and two infant children. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family to use at a later date. Casket Bearers will be Austin Harrison, Tyler Steinkrause, Mike Harrison, Jeff Anderson, D.J. Vyhlidal and Mike Miller. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Austin Sporleder, Alexis Sporleder, Addison Sporleder, John Hansen, Ron Behnke, Duane Maas and Jim Maas. Heavenly Honorary Casket Bearer Jayden Sporleder. Music will be by Organist Grace Tuma congregational hymns will be “On Eagles Wings”, “How Great Thou Art”, recorded hymn “Go Rest High On That Mountain”.

Tributes

Leroy John Sporleder

April 22, 1944 - October 11, 2024