HHS
1962
Leo Overholser
Last Revision
Location
Personal Website
Business Website
Photo Website
Birthday
Spouse/Partner
Children
Employer
Obit
Leo Jr. Overholser was born on February 11, 1943, the youngest child, to Leo and Violet (Rennecker) Overholser in Hastings, Nebraska. He departed this life on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Emerald Communities Independence House at Northview, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 72, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Leo was baptized on April 3, 1955 at First Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska and was confirmed on April 13, 1967 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege.
He attended grade school in Clay Center, Nebraska and graduated from Holdrege High School in 1962. After high school, Leo attended and wrestled at Kearney State College. He later worked as a truck driver for Gardine Trucking while getting his barber’s license. He barbered in Grand Island & Kearney and went back to Kearney State where he finished his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts in 1974.
Leo also served for six years in the Air National Guard and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1971.
On July 1, 1967, Leo was united in marriage to MaryAnne Heidemann at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Wilcox. To this union three children were born: Andrea Lee, Leo Matthew and Erin Stacy. The family moved to a farm, south of Wilcox in 1974, where Leo farmed with his father-in-law. Leo also taught for a short time at Axtell Public Schools and assisted coaching football and wrestling. Leo served for eight years on the Wilcox School Board, the Wilcox Rural Fire Board, and held several offices at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Later, he worked at Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege, as a carpenter and social director, until his retirement in 2008.
Leo was a true people person, who loved to joke around and tease. His family used to comment that they couldn’t take him anywhere where he wouldn’t run into someone he knew. He enjoyed being around children of all ages and attending their sporting events. Leo’s hobbies included dancing, hunting, and golfing, but his ultimate passion was fishing. Most important to his life was his family. He loved gatherings with the family and grandchildren. He also had many fond memories of growing up with his sister and brothers and their extended families.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Violet Overholser; in-laws, Theo and Louise (Pageler) Heidemann; infant sister, Elaine; sister, Laura Lee Horner and husband, Lloyd; brothers, Calvin (Dempsey) Overholser and wife, Ryoko (Kawashima) and Paul & Clarina (Cherry) Overholser.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife; MaryAnne Overholser of Wilcox; daughters, Andrea Lewis and her husband, Randy of Denton, Nebraska and Erin Pool and her husband, Andrew of Waverly, Nebraska; son, Matt Overholser and his wife, April of Wilcox; six grandchildren: Jordan and Cassie Lewis, Jenna and Will Pool and Addison and Aubree Overholser; brother, Richard Overholser and his wife, Cleo of Roswell, Georgia; sister-in-law, Jean Stolzenburg and her husband, Bud of Crookston, Nebraska; along with numerous nieces, nephews, an abundance of friends, 86 fishing poles, and his boat. He is also survived by many special friends and the Caregivers at Emerald Communities and the dedicated and caring staff at AseraCare Hospice in Lincoln.
Visitation was held on Monday, December 14, 2015 from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox.
A memorial has been established in Leo’s honor and kindly suggested to: LCMS Mission Central, 40718 Highway E 16, Mapleton, Iowa 51034-7015 or Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141-8557.
The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox was in charge of the arrangements.