Surnames: Noeldner, Haessig, Nysted, Keogh, Turnquist, Johnson, Halhen, Anderson, Rottjer, Dux, Jasurda

----Source: Loyal TRG 06 February 2008

Noeldner, Leonard E. #2 (24 FEB 1917 - 31 JAN 2008)

Leonard E. Noeldner, 90, went home to his creator at 11:30 a.m., on Jan. 31, 2008. A celebration of his life was held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Loyal. His nephew, the Rev. Richard Noeldner, and the Rev. Daniel Zimmerman co-officiated. His niece, Kathy Jasurda, was the organist. His grandchildren served as pallbearers.

Leonard E. Noeldner was born the sixth of eight children, to Ernst and Margaret (Maggie, nee Haessig) Noeldner, on Feb. 24, 1917, on the family farm in the town of Loyal. He attended Seidelman School and was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Loyal. He married Margaret Nysted at Trinity on Aug. 16, 1939. They enjoyed a close community of family, friends and neighbors as they raised five daughters and two sons.

He operated a dairy farm on the homestead, many of those years in conjunction with his brothers, Norbert and Edwin, and later with his nephew, Jerry. Periodically, he worked on his brother Herman’s silo building crews and he and his brothers built a new house for the family in the 1950s. As a farmer, he was known for his careful stewardship of the land and his property, his innovative approach to mechanical challenges and the uncanny ability to repair farm implements. He retired in 1982, but rented out his land and boarded heifers for several more years. Members of his family purchased the homestead from him in 2002.

He practices his Christian faith throughout his life. An unassuming man, he lived by his strong values with integrity. He was an active member of Trinity’s Luther League as a young man, later served in a number of capacities with the Brotherhood, sang bass in the choir and taught the adult Sunday school class. He was a champion on the dart ball team and a member of the Building Committee for the church’s educational unit. He belonged to the Gideons, where he was treasurer of the Marshfield-Neillsville Camp for several years, In his later years, he joined and worshipped at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Christie. He also served on the school board for Lyon School and hi love of music was expressed as a member of the Clark County Male Chorus and the Deutscher Club.

He was enthusiastic berry picker, eventually raising a variety of berries, grapes, apples and cherries in his orchard. He also took great satisfaction in replanting pine trees that he found on his walks or when enjoying a leisurely Sunday drive. He was a keen observer of the song birds, deer and other wildlife that shared his world. He was an environmentalist and a conversationalist well before these were popular movements.

In retirement, he enjoyed some traveling, including a trip to Germany with a group of his relatives. He was always available to assist the family members with remodeling and repair projects, as well as attend special events in their lives. During Margaret’s final years, he cared for her at home with the assistance of home health and family members. They observed their 61st wedding anniversary a week prior to her death in 2000. Since the inauguration of a monthly newsletter in 2003, he regularly shared his memories with younger generations.

He was blessed with good health throughout most of his life, remaining on the farm until moving to the Angelus Retirement Community, in Marshfield, in early 2006. He was surrounded by three generations of loving descendants, most of whom gathered with him for his 90th birthday celebration held in July and again this past Thanksgiving on the farm. Several family members were at his side when he left this life.

Survivors include five daughters, Mary (Arlyn) Turnquist, Deerfield, Carol Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich., Kristine (Andrew) Keogh, Marshfield, Bernice (Norman) Halhen, Oshkosh, and Helen (Tyberius Jakob-Anderson), Madison; two sons, Paul (Barbara) Noeldner, Madison, and Hans (Lyn) Noeldner, Oregon; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Emma Rottjer, Martha Dux, and Laura (Verland) Dux, all of Loyal.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; a sister, Meta McCann; and three brothers, Herman, Norbert, and Erwin.

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude for those who enriched the quality of his last years: Pastor Dan Cole of St. John’s, grandson Dan Turnquist who stayed with him his final summer on the farm, the staff at Angelus for its caring assistance, those at the House of the Dove, Marshfield., who helped him enter the next life, and our sister, Kristine, who managed his affairs and was a loving, unfailing presence for him. A memorial appropriate to his legacy will be established at a later date.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Loyal assisted the family with arrangements.