Roger L. Leichtfuss

Roger L. Leichtfuss, 72, of Van Dyne, passed away peacefully at home on December 11, 2023 with his family at his side. Roger was born on December 21, 1950 in Fond du Lac, the son of Lawrence and Marcella Koplitz Leichtfuss. Roger grew up on the family farm that he worked and lived on his entire life. Roger’s father passed away when Roger was 15 years old. After Lawrence’s death, the family sold the cows but continued to farm the land. Roger graduated from Rosendale High School in 1969. After graduating from high school, Roger bought his own herd of cows to start his own dairy farm on the family farm. Roger married Deborah Dahlke on April 3, 1971 at Peace Lutheran Church in Rosendale. They worked side by side milking cows, doing chores, working the fields, raising their children and teaching them the value of hard work. Roger's son Michael continued to work on the farm side by side with Roger eventually passing the farm onto Michael and his wife Lisa. Michael and Lisa were Roger's caregivers for the past 4 years. This allowed Roger the comfort and blessing of being in his home when he passed on to be reunited with his wife Debbie. Roger and Debbie enjoyed 48 years of marriage before she passed on December 26, 2019. Roger was very knowledgeable and skilled. He could fix or build anything that he set his mind to making it stronger and better than anything you could buy. Roger enjoyed woodworking and was the woodworking leader for Lucky Leaf 4-H Club for many years. He spent countless hours building things with his children and then his grandchildren. Many of these items would find their way to the Fond du Lac County Fair or even onto the State Fair. Roger was a long time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Nekimi where he was baptized and confirmed. He was active in the church council and also served as usher for many years. Throughout the last years of Roger’s life, he remained kind and gentle. His smile and that twinkle in his eye remained with him. Roger’s humor and prankster ways were still there in the end. His love of farming never faltered. He enjoyed watching Michael harvest the crops and working the land this past fall. Even shouting out “watch out” or “all clear” as Michael would come up the driveway with the tractor. Though his mind was failing him, the last words that he said was “coboss” which means, a call to the cows. Roger's love of the animals and the land that he worked is forever in our hearts with this simple word….coboss. Roger is survived by his three children: Michele (Brian) Westphal of Eldorado, Michael (Lisa) Leichtfuss of Van Dyne, and Mark (Vanna) Leichtfuss of Two Rivers; eight grandchildren: Marissa (Dan) Brown, Kyle and Gabrielle Westphal, Amanda (Brady) Beekman, Emerson, Everett, Loretta, and Excalibur Leichtfuss. He is further survived by his sister Bonnie (Joel) Holmes of North Fond du Lac, brother and sister-in-laws: Dick (Betty) Dahlke of Rosendale, Diane (Pete) Michels of Fond du Lac, Dan (Karen) Dahlke of Brandon, Susan (Dave) Hansen of Hernando, MS, Sandy (Jeff) Duel of Eldorado and Sheryl Wray of Menasha as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and his four-legged companion Sam. He was preceded in death by his wife Debbie Leichtfuss, his parents, his father and mother-in-law Laurence and Margaret Wagner Dahlke, grandson Ryan Leichtfuss and brother-in-law Terry Wray. Special thanks to Rogers care team from SSM Hospice, especially to Lori, Jessica, Melissa, Shannon, and Pastor Allen. We thank you for caring for Roger as if he was your own and helping Michael, Lisa and family through Rogers' last days. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to SSM Hospice, Fond du lac, WI. Friends may call on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 10:00 - 12:00 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Town of Nekimi, 491 Old Oregon Street Road, Oshkosh. Funeral service to follow. Burial to follow service at St. John’s Cemetery, Town of Nekimi. Kurki Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, on-line guestbook can be found at www.kurkifuneralchapel.com. 920-921-4420

Roger L. Leichtfuss

December 21, 1950 - December 11, 2023