Leon F. Hartzheim

Leon Hartzheim, age 90, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Country Villa in Little Chute. He was born on August 11, 1932, in Darboy, Wisconsin, son of Oscar and Laura (Feldmeyer) Hartzheim.  On September 2, 1954, he married Lillian Sprangers at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Darboy, where he was a life-long member.

There is a special trait about Leon that very few people can claim.  He was born on the Hartzheim homestead farm in Darboy and lived there for 90 years!  The 90-acre farm was deeded to Gottfried & Catherine Hartzheim in 1856, and passed down through the generations to Fred and Anna, Oscar and Laura, and finally Leon and Lillian. 

In addition to farming, Leon worked as a pipe insulator for Industrial Insulation and Bartelt Insulation from 1958 to 1992.   Following retirement he worked part-time for Shade Today Nursery, driving tractor to cultivate and mow weeds.  Later on he volunteered his handyman skills every Tuesday morning in the Grandpa Patrol at Holy Spirit Parish in Darboy.  (He really went there for the coffee and donuts!)

Leon was a Jack-of-all-trades.  When things broke down on the farm, he could fix them.  He was a hard worker with a quick wit, which are traits passed down to his kids.  He kept the farm, vegetable and flower gardens neat and tidy.  He was a record keeper who was proud of his daily journals and newspaper scrapbook.   He enjoyed family gatherings, sheepshead, bowling, golf, Brewer games and breakfasts with various groups of friends.

Survivors include his children: Mary (Allan) Ver Voort, Madison; Ellen (Bob) Nunberg, Minneapolis; Mark (Kay) Hartzheim, Stockbridge; Beth (Jon) Wittmann, Menasha; Maury (Carrie) Hartzheim, Kaukauna; Cliff (Kay) Hartzheim, Kaukauna; and Fred (Lori) Hartzheim, Waterford; 20 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother David Hartzheim, California; sister Grace Kessler, Appleton; in-laws: Clarence Schneider, Chilton; Mike Schreiber, Appleton; Lois (Ray) Schreiber, Menasha; Linda Sprangers, Kaukauna; and Mary Sprangers, Kaukauna.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughters: LeeAnn Steffens and Kay Metko; a stillborn son, O.J.;  brothers: Richard, Paul and Robert; and sisters: Eva Brozoski and Eileen Maloney.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2023, at Holy Spirit Parish-Holy Angels Church, W2806 County Road KK, Darboy. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

The family thanks neighbor Mehmet Fitzhugh for helping Dad around the farm whenever he asked.   We also thank the wonderful staff at Country Villa in Little Chute and Moments Hospice for their compassionate care of our Dad in his final five months.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.namiwisconsin.org). 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.