Leo J. C. Stuckenschmidt

Leo J. C. Stuckenschmidt, 98, of Manhattan, Kansas formerly of Pender, Nebraska died on Friday, November 16, 2007 at the St. Joseph Village Care Center in Manhattan, Kansas. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Pender with the Rev. Steven Tjarks officiating. A visitation will be held on Monday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender, Ne. There will be a prayer service held at 7:00 P.M. on Monday evening at the funeral home. Interment will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Pender. Leo was born on January 25, 1909 in northern Cuming County NE near Pender, the son of Henry and Mary (Blanknagel) Stuckenschmidt. Leo was baptized on February 28, 1909 at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Pender and later confirmed on April 13, 1924 also at St. John’s Lutheran Church. He worked for William Weddingfeld in the Pender area from 1926-1936 as a farmhand and gasoline truck driver. Leo later worked as a farmhand for Marie Ahlers in Thurston Co., NE after the untimely death of her husband. Leo was married to Mildred Ahlers on January 25, 1939. The couple farmed in Thurston Co, NE from 1944-1950 and in Cuming Co, NE from 1950-1980. Leo and Mildred retired and moved to a home in Pender, NE where they lived until 2004. In 2004, the couple moved into St. Joseph’s Retirement Village in Manhattan, Kansas. One of his favorite pastimes was playing with his grandchildren when they would come to visit. He loved to play cards and have coffee with his friends. He was a devout Christian and an active, long-time (69 yrs) member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church near Pender. He is survived by his wife, Mildred, sons Leon and his wife Pam of Fredericksburg, TX, Dean and his wife Anne of Fresno, CA, David and his wife Anita of Manhattan, KS, grandchildren Karen Kuzma, and Bonnie, Brian, Daren, Noel, Emily, Henry & Hannah Stuckenschmidt, and great-granddaughter, Jessica Kuzma. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers, 2 sisters, and his daughter, Joann Albright.