Leonard J. Pekula

Leonard J. Pekula, 84 year old resident of Swan River Township, Morrison County, Minnesota died Sunday May 1, 2016 at St. Benedicts Senior Community in St. Cloud, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 5 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski, MNwith Fr. Jimmy Joseph officiating. The burial will be held in the parish cemetery. The Parish Prayers will be said at 5:00 p.m., Bowlus American Legion Rosary at 6:00 p.m. and the Knights of Columbus Office of the Dead, Council #1804 at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 4 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Emblom Brenny Funeral Service and from 9:30-11:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church in Sobieski, MN. Military Honors will be conducted by the Bowlus American Legion Post # 642 and the Little Falls VFW Post #1112.

Leonard John Pekula was born May 16, 1931 in Little Falls, MN to John and Florence (Gosiak) Pekula. He attended District #135 Country School in Swan River Township. As a young man, he worked in North Dakota operating a plow for local farmers. Leonard also worked for Swift Meat Packing in South St. Paul for a few years. He served his country in the United States Army from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955. Leonard was united in marriage to Geraldine Bursey on September 3, 1956 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in Bowlus, MN. The couple made their home in Swan River Township. Leonard farmed in Swan River Township from 1956 until semi-retiring in 2003. Leonard received several quality awards over the years as a quality milk producer. As a farmer, you never truly retire and that was true with Leonard. He continued helping Roland on the family farm even in his retirement years. He also hauled milk for the Sobieski Creamery, a job his father had before him. He enjoyed fishing, watching the Minnesota Twins, listening to Old Time music, playing the accordion, playing cards and shaking dice. The couple enjoyed their various trips throughout the United States. Leonard served on the following boards and organizations: Sobieski Creamery Board from 1973-1993, founding member of the Polish Knight Riders Snowmobile Club and Trail Grooming, Sobieski Sportsmans Club, Creameries Blending Board, JacquesSeed Dealer and started the Little Six Baseball in Sobieski, MN. He was a faithful member of the Bowlus American Legion Post #624, Little Falls VFW Post #1112, Knights of Columbus Council #1804 and St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski, MN, where he served on the parish council for several years.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Roland (Jeannie Zimmerman) Pekula of Sobieski, MN, Judy (Lloyd) Lashinski of Albany, MN, Roger (Susan) Pekula of Rice, MN; grandchildren, Jeremy (Andrea) Pekula, Jennifer (Nic) Schweisthal, Jason Lashinski, Cheryl (Angelo) DiAllesandro, Zoey Pekula, Zachary Pekula and Zayda Pekula; great-grandchildren, Tristan Pekula and Jackson Pekula; siblings, Jim (Rita) Pekula of Little Falls, MN, Joan (Duane) Jendro of Little Falls, MN and Mary Bellefeuille of Sobieski, MN and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine Pekula on January 25, 2016; parents; granddaughter, Janelle Pookie Pekula (2010).