Leonard Petsche
January 9, 1934 — June 10, 2017
Leonard Anthony Petsche, son of George and Susan (Klein) Petsche, was born on January 9, 1934 in Harlan, Iowa. Leonard was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. He started school in Harlan then during WWII he moved with his family to Tennessee where his father worked in support of the war effort. The family returned to Harlan and Leonard continued his education graduating from Harlan High School with the class of 1952.
After high school, Leonard went on to attend Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa until
March 16, 1953, when Leonard and his twin brother Lavern enlisted in the United States Air Force. Both served their country honorably during the Korean War. While on leave in California, Leonard and Lavern met their future brides, June and Billy, who were friends. On September 15, 1956, Leonard was united in marriage to June Brown at St. Louis Bertrand’s Catholic Church in Oakland, California while Leonard was still in the Air Force. After his honorable discharge on March 15, 1957, he and June returned to Harlan so Leonard could help at his father’s business.
After the death of his father, Leonard and his brothers continued to operate Petsche Plumbing and Heating from 1960 until their retirement in 1998. Leonard and June were the parents of seven children: Dan, Steve, Robert, Lisa, Michael, Joe and Carolyn. Leonard passed on many of his skills in the HVAC business to all of his children in one form or another while they were growing up in the shop on 8th Street in downtown Harlan.
Leonard was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church where he was a member of the Men’s Choir as well as the Knights of Columbus. Leonard was a hard worker who was dedicated to his family business but also had a passion for flying that developed when he was a young boy helping out at the Harlan Airport. He continued his passion for flying for many years. After retiring in 1998, June and Leonard began traveling to Arizona where they later built a home. They were active in the Mary Magdalen and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Churches in Queen Creek, Arizona.
In early 2017, June and Leonard returned to Harlan and this has been their home since. Leonard died at Bergan Mercy Medical in Omaha, Nebraska on June 10, 2017 having attained the age of eighty-three years, five months and one day. In addition to his parents, Leonard was preceded in death by his infant daughter Carolyn and his twin brother Lavern.
He is survived by his wife June Petsche of Harlan; children: Dan Petsche of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Steve Petsche and his wife Louri of Phoenix, Arizona; Robert Petsche and his wife Rochelle of Onawa, Iowa; Lisa Petsche of Phoenix; Michael Petsche of Denver, Colorado and Joe Petsche and his wife Laura of Harlan, IA; 10 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; siblings Lucille McKeighan of Las Vegas, Nevada; Phyllis Stephany; Charlene and her husband Neil Mahlberg; George Petsche and his wife Sue and James Petsche all of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
After high school, Leonard went on to attend Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa until
March 16, 1953, when Leonard and his twin brother Lavern enlisted in the United States Air Force. Both served their country honorably during the Korean War. While on leave in California, Leonard and Lavern met their future brides, June and Billy, who were friends. On September 15, 1956, Leonard was united in marriage to June Brown at St. Louis Bertrand’s Catholic Church in Oakland, California while Leonard was still in the Air Force. After his honorable discharge on March 15, 1957, he and June returned to Harlan so Leonard could help at his father’s business.
After the death of his father, Leonard and his brothers continued to operate Petsche Plumbing and Heating from 1960 until their retirement in 1998. Leonard and June were the parents of seven children: Dan, Steve, Robert, Lisa, Michael, Joe and Carolyn. Leonard passed on many of his skills in the HVAC business to all of his children in one form or another while they were growing up in the shop on 8th Street in downtown Harlan.
Leonard was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church where he was a member of the Men’s Choir as well as the Knights of Columbus. Leonard was a hard worker who was dedicated to his family business but also had a passion for flying that developed when he was a young boy helping out at the Harlan Airport. He continued his passion for flying for many years. After retiring in 1998, June and Leonard began traveling to Arizona where they later built a home. They were active in the Mary Magdalen and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Churches in Queen Creek, Arizona.
In early 2017, June and Leonard returned to Harlan and this has been their home since. Leonard died at Bergan Mercy Medical in Omaha, Nebraska on June 10, 2017 having attained the age of eighty-three years, five months and one day. In addition to his parents, Leonard was preceded in death by his infant daughter Carolyn and his twin brother Lavern.
He is survived by his wife June Petsche of Harlan; children: Dan Petsche of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Steve Petsche and his wife Louri of Phoenix, Arizona; Robert Petsche and his wife Rochelle of Onawa, Iowa; Lisa Petsche of Phoenix; Michael Petsche of Denver, Colorado and Joe Petsche and his wife Laura of Harlan, IA; 10 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; siblings Lucille McKeighan of Las Vegas, Nevada; Phyllis Stephany; Charlene and her husband Neil Mahlberg; George Petsche and his wife Sue and James Petsche all of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
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