Leroy Wadzinski
Age - 94
June 16, 2023
LeRoy Anthony Wadzinski was born in Marathon, Wisconsin on December 1st, 1928 to Ray and Genevieve Wadzinski. His dad, Ray was a cheesemaker and LeRoy began working at the cheese plant at a very young age. His mother wanted him to become a priest, so at the end of the 8th grade he was dropped off at the Seminary to begin his training. He was there for several years and had realized he really didn't have a vocation, so decided to leave. He was afraid to go home and disappoint his mom and dad, so he and friend ran to Louisville, Kentucky and got jobs at the Brown Hotel. He was a bellhop and said he met some famous people. His dad found out where he was and showed up to take him home. Dad told us that he knew he wasn't in too much trouble because his dad offered him a cigarette. He was going to continue his high school career, but that didn't last long because his dad kept him home a lot to work at the cheese plant. A new schoolteacher, Violet Horn, showed up at the school across the street and he found excuses to go visit her. He ended up marrying her June 26th, 1948. They had 6 children, Terry, Sue, Judy, Deb, Mike, and Lori; grandchildren, Tara Wadzinski, Julie and David Dworak, Chris, Jessie and Kim McInroy, Holly and Jack Huber, Melissa, Ryan and Michaela Wadzinski and Hudson and Truman Polich) 14 great grandchildren and were married for 51 years. LeRoy had cheese plants in various places throughout Wisconsin, before he moved to Ravenna, Nebraska to start the Ravenna Cheese Co. While he was building his business, he was named the Nebraska Businessman of the Year in 1972, for exemplifying the imagination, initiative, independence, and integrity that makes a vital contribution to the nation, the economy and the free enterprise system. He was proud of that honor, and it still hung in his office today. In addition, he was an AKSARBEN ambassador and received honors in 1974 and 1999. As his cheese plant became more successful, an unscrupulous group of individuals became interested in LeRoy's plant. He consulted with some of his close friends and business advisors, and they advised him to sell. Because of this he decided to retire early and sell the plant. This gave him the opportunity to do some traveling with his wife, Vi. He also began numerous other businesses that would benefit various family members as well as the community of Ravenna. LeRoy and Vi enjoyed traveling in their 5th Wheel and dancing. He was an avid golfer and loved playing Bingo, Bango, Bongo with his sons, sons-in-law and anyone else with whom he was playing. After Vi passed, LeRoy was incredibly sad and lonely. My sister Sue eventually introduced him to LaVera Meardon and they married on July 6th, 2001. They had 22 happy years together. They loved dancing and playing Tough 13. LeRoy had always wanted to travel internationally, and he got to do that with LaVera. They visited 6 out of 7 continents and many, many countries together. LeRoy had an additional 4 bonus grandchildren, Ethan and Emily Klement, and Max and Carolann Donnelly through their marriage plus 2 additional bonus daughters, Christine Greaves (Scott) and Lisa (Paul) Donnelly. These are some of the things that my dad did, but it doesn't describe WHO he was. For that, you'd have to really know him. He always had a ready smile and words of encouragement for all of us. He very seldom would come to the rescue if there was something he thought you needed to learn and because of that he helped all of us develop our character. He loved to have fun and he loved to give surprises!We have pictures of him exercising and making the grandkids and bonus grandkids exercise with him. If anyone was staying overnight, he would say he was going to ring the cowbell at 5 AM to wake them up for calisthenics. He was so patient! He did different things with grandkids to make them feel special, like teach them the bunny hop, give them an empty razor and let them learn to shave, let them ride on the riding lawn mower with him, let them drive the golf cart. He taught several grandchildren how to golf. If there was a problem, he could come up with 12 ways to solve it. That trait benefitted the family and the businesses that he was involved with. He also looked out for the underdog and would help people without looking for recognition. He bought a house for someone in Ravenna because they were struggling. He made friends wherever he went, and he stayed friends with the people he met. He had "tables of knowledge" in Ravenna, Grand Island, West Des Moines and Mesa. He was a gentle soul and remained positive throughout this latest illness. He wanted to make sure that everyone was ok and that he had taken care of everything that he needed to. We assured him that he did!We are all going to miss the positive, dynamic, caring man that he was! To quote one of my sisters, "He was the best man we all have ever known. Survivors include his wife LaVera of W Des Moines, IA; children, Terry (Peg) Wadzinski of Mesa, AZ, Michael (Rhonda) Wadzinski of Sioux City, IA, Sue (Bill) Dworak of Mesa, AZ, Judy (Terry) McInroy of Round Rock, TX, Deb (Mark) Huber of Mesa, AZ and Lori (Tom) Polich of Hermosa Beach, CA; grandchildren, Tara Wadzinski, Julie and David Dworak, Chris, Jessie and Kim McInroy, Holly and Jack Huber, Melissa, Ryan and Michaela Wadzinski and Hudson and Truman Polich; fourteen great-grandchildren; bonus daughters, Christine (Scott) Greaves and Lisa (Paul) Donnelly; bonus grandchildren, Ethan and Emily Klement and Max and Carolann Donnelly and sister, Carol (Ralph) Banke. He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet, parents, 3 sisters, 1 brother and 2 infant grandchildren, Steven and Jeffrey. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the American Parkinson Disease Assocation. See link below under Memorial Contributions.Show more
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