Leonard J. Kjer's Obituary
Leonard J. Kjer, age 93, of Stevens Point and Amherst, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 8, 2019 at Atrium Senior Living Center, River View Lodge, Stevens Point, WI. He was born June 14, 1926 on the home farm in the Town of Amherst, Portage County, Wisconsin, the 10th child of William (Willie) and Lucy (Glodowski) Kjer. Leonard attended Amherst Junction Graded School and graduated in 1944 from Amherst High School. He served with the 45th Infantry Division, U. S. Army in Japan and Korea from 1950 - 1952 and was in the Army Reserves from 1952 – 1957. With the exception of his military service, he worked in the banking industry his entire life, first with Security State Bank of Amherst Junction under the guidance of his uncle, Olaf A. Nelson. Leonard also worked at Hustisford State Bank, Hustisford, Wisconsin, at American Security & Trust Company, Washington, DC, and Cleveland Trust Company, Cleveland, Ohio, retiring from Cleveland Trust in the early 1970s as Construction Loan Manager. Leonard never married. He moved to the Stevens Point area, purchasing a house on Lindberg Ave. in 1974. He remained active in politics and was a proud member of the Democratic Party. He remained a poll worker for the City of Stevens Point through 2014. He participated in the 2014 Never Forgotten Honor Flight. Upon his return, he talked of his Honor Flight experience with Amherst Grade School 6th graders as part of their Veterans’ Day observance. He enjoyed gardening, swimming and biking at his cottage on Rinehart Lake and visiting with relatives and friends, especially during the holidays when he enjoyed spirited games of sheepshead. He was a member of Nelsonville Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nelsonville, Wisconsin.
Leonard is survived by his sister, Donna (Chester) Trzebiatowski, Wild Rose, Wisconsin, and sister-in-law, Mary Lu (Peter) Kjer, Cohasset, Massachusetts. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who were all special in his eyes.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Lucy Kjer; sisters and brothers, Velma (William) Frizzell, Lillian (Claude) Upthagrove, Myron (Ramona) Kjer, Lucille (Charles) Taylor, Norman (Bernice) Kjer, Carla (Walter) Leppen, Doris (Richard) Ellett, Mildred (Anton) Woyak, and Peter (Mary Lu) Kjer.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Nelsonville Lutheran Church, Nelsonville, WI. Reverend Dwight Anderson will officiate. A visitation will be held on Wednesday morning from 10:00 – 11:00 at the church. Burial with military honors will take place directly after the funeral at Nelsonville Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of New Hope, WI. The Jungers-Holly Funeral Home of Amherst is assisting the family with arrangements.
A special thank you to the staffs at Atrium Senior Living Center and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services who provided both friendship and care for Leonard through his final days. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, Wausau, Wisconsin.
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