Daniel Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Leander J. Meyer

February 2, 1922 – June 1, 2020

Leander J. Meyer, age 98, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 1, 2020, at Serenity Place in St. Joseph. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held, followed by burial in the St. Joseph Parish Cemetery.

Friends and family are invited to a public visitation to be held Wednesday, June 10, 2020, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Joseph. To ensure visitor safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, those attending will be required to wear face masks and observe the social distancing guidelines provided.

Leander was born on February 2, 1922, to Margaret (Sand) and Max Meyer. He married Dolores Bechtold on May 20, 1947. Together they raised seven children on the family farm in St. Joseph. Leander also developed a business as a woodworker and cabinet maker; his handiwork can be found in many central Minnesota homes and businesses. After retirement, both Leander and Dolores enjoyed wintering in Arizona, and he was able to continue traveling there until 2018.

Lee, as he was known in the community, was known for his extensive volunteer service. He served as the St. Joseph Township Clerk for 16 years. He was the Chair of the St. Joseph Parish July 4th Festival for 25 years. In the early 90s, he was the grand marshal of the Festival parade. On July 4, 2019, he was grand marshal again, this time as a 97 year-old. He and Dolores were active with Senior Citizens of St. Joseph and were honored in the 1997 July 4th Festival parade as Senior King and Queen. He served in various volunteer positions for the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters (mutual insurance) and was active for many years as a member and an officer of the American Milk Producers Inc. He delivered Meals on Wheels as an RSVP volunteer well into his 80s.

Lee’s pastimes covered a range of interests. A dedicated fisherman and hunter, he was a lifetime member of the St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club. In their younger years, he and Dolores enjoyed 20 plus years of square dancing and danced competitively throughout the region. In between woodshop commissions, he crafted grandfather clocks—some made for family members and others donated to the St. Joseph Parish for fundraising. He enjoyed cardplaying from boyhood until his final days and was proficient in many games, including Wizard, a game he taught to staff and residents at Serenity Place.

Lee believed in service that extended beyond organizations to include neighbors, friends, family, and sometimes strangers. He offered a helping hand to anyone who needed it, and his genuine affection for all kinds of people made him a good friend to many. He loved telling a good story and playing practical jokes. Lee will be remembered as a man who knew hardship and hard work, but who always did his best with enthusiasm, energy and a can-do attitude. He will be missed by many.

Leander is survived by daughters Kathleen of St. Joseph, MN, Rita (Larry Rapp) of North Oaks, MN, and Helen of Minneapolis, MN; sons David (Debbie) of White Bear Lake, MN, John (Susan) of Ocala, FL, James (Susan Hennen) of Sartell, MN, and Paul (Christine) of Plymouth, MN; 16 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; sister Marcella Roe of Grey Eagle, MN; and sisters in-law Josephine Meyer of St. Joseph, MN, and Dorothy Meyer of Sedona, AZ. He was preceded in death by his wife Dolores, parents Margaret and Max, and siblings Cyril, Catherine, and Roman.

The family is grateful for the support and care provided by the staff of Serenity Place and the Centracare Hospice and Homecare Program.

Memorials are preferred to the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf, P.O. Box 384, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Personal condolences can be sent to: Meyer family 22 East Minnesota Street St. Joseph, MN 56374

Link to watch Mass of Christian Burial held June 11, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph, Minnesota: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr19t7x3-8


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Thoughts & prayers are with at this time of need & always in my prayers

Lee will be missed for all the good he did & that BIG friendly smile along with great hugs.

Always enjoyed our time spent in Arizona when visiting Mom & Dad playing cards with Lee.

I will miss Leander’s smiling face coming into church and putting his worship aide on his “Cadillac” walker!!! Rest now from your labors! Thank you for all your contributions to this life and to your faith community!

Uncle Leander I will definitely miss your huge hugs and great conversation.

I met Lee way back when I bought my place in Roadhaven about 14 years ago or so now. I kept thinking that
instead of a home, I would like to be staying somewhere like that. I would see the older folks walking around
there, playing cards, visiting with people and looking happy and content. I thought I may have met Dolores but maybe not. I only went there to check on the place back then, to clean, etc. I was renting it out back then for the whole
season. Lee always came to check on me.

Lee and I became pretty close. He always seemed to look out after me. We would talk on the phone and he’d always let me know that the place looked secure or the renters were nice as he would take it upon himself to introduce himself so that he could let me know all was good.

I started going there more and more and when Michael and I got together we’d go visit in the fall for a few months at the beginning of the season and into May to shut it down for the summer. We became very close with Lee. We would have him over for cook outs but he usually liked cooking his own meat at home. We would always have our music playing. When our music wasn’t on, Lee would have his window open and put his radio or little music box in the window and crank up his music. That was fun. It was usually polkas. I think he thought maybe we weren’t fond of his music but we told him that Michael’s dad Leo, “Spitz” Heier is a legend drummer from the Gene Heier Orchestra and played with Rommy Gozz. Spitz travelled around the world with
the band that played a lot of the music Lee was listening too. We loved it. In fact, Leo will be 95 in November and we still bring him to our place in the country where his drums are set up in our living room. We put on his old albums and he
plays along, never missing a beat.

Lee always talked about how he was so lucky to have married the best woman in the world and they had the best family together and told us a lot of stories during his younger years on the farm, raising the kids, etc. I remember his daughter would call him every late afternoon and how he looked forward to that. And his kids would always bring him to Roadhaven to open up the place and get it ready for him and pick him up and shut it down at the end the season, doing a lot of work while they were there.

We took Lee for a few of his doctor appointments. A few times he treated to Mickey D’s in Apache Junction. We thought he was treating at McDonalds because everyone use to call it Mickey D’s. Anyway, we fell in love with that place and always think of Lee when we go there now.

Michael always would work outside on projects and Lee was always there giving him advice – good advice. He was so knowledgeable with everything. We sure enjoyed his company. We took him up for a drive a few times to see Canyon Lake and to Tortilla Flats. He loved listening to the music there. Those are great memories.

Lee is the one who knew where to shop for the best fruit and he rode with us to the Fruit and Vegetable Market to show us where it was. Now that is one of our places to shop and we think of Lee when we go there.

We would walk with him to the music at the pool patio. He usually sat on the bench by the building listening to the music until it put him asleep. He was so darn awesome, smart, funny, full of stories and just so darn cute.
He said Roadhaven always made him feel young as he could walk and feel good in the sunshine. And, the ladies
all loved him. They’d leave little notes in his mail box on the porch on what time the card games start or what
time they want him to come for dinner. He was sure loved.

Lee told us he helped with the flooring in our place with the original owner so we even have a little bit of Lee in our Park Model.

And, on top of all that, Dave come out for a visit and we enjoyed a whole evening sipping on beer (Lee probably only one)
and Michael and Dave (Dave tried to keep up with Michael), well, anyway – it was a fun evening to remember.

We loved Lee and he will be missed. There is not a day when I’m there and I look out my window at his place and see him smiling back.

Cathy Keil and Michael Heier

I want to send my sincere condolences on your loss. He will be missed.

Services

Schedule Details

Leander J. Meyer, age 98, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 1, 2020, at Serenity Place in St. Joseph. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held, followed by burial in the St. Joseph Parish Cemetery.

Friends and family are invited to a public visitation to be held Wednesday, June 10, 2020, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Joseph. To ensure visitor safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, those attending will be required to wear face masks and observe the social distancing guidelines provided.