Leon J. Schmidtbauer

Leon Schmidtbauer, 87 year old resident of Pierz, MN passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at the Lakewood Senior Campus in Staples, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 A.M on Tuesday, June, 10, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, MN with Father Aaron Nett officiating. Burial will take place in the St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery in Pierz, MN. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M. on Monday, June 9, 2025 and from 9-10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, all at the LeMieur Funeral Home in Pierz, MN. Memorial contributions will be directed towards the purchase of a memorial bench to be placed at the Dalton Threshing Show, a place Leon loved to visit. Caring for Leon and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Pierz, MN. Leon J. Schmidtbauer was born on September 7, 1937 in Buh Township to Math and Mary (Hoheisel) Schmidtbauer. He attended District 19 Country School and St. Michael’s Elementary in Buckman. He worked at Brandl Garage in Buckman prior to joining the US Army in the early 1960s. Leon was stationed in Germany as a mechanic just prior to the building of the Berlin Wall. He was responsible for tank repair and maintenance and was asked by the Brigadier General to create a manual because no instructions for tank repair existed at the time. Upon his discharge from the Army, Leon worked at CL Stodolka Construction (forerunner of Tri-City Paving). He opened Crossroads Repair in Buckman, with a specialty in diesel mechanics. He sold New Idea and White Farm Equipment before retiring from Falls Fabricating in 1994. Leon enjoyed visiting New Ulm and Fort Ridley, attending flea markets, browsing rummage sales for things—like sewing machines—that he could fix, and going to threshing shows to show his grandkids how the equipment worked (and to make sure that all displays were adequately maintained). Above all, he enjoyed scooter rides and spending time with his family. Leon is survived by his children, Dori (Tim) Hayes, and Donna Hayes; grandchildren, Nicole (Aaron) Moberg, Paige Hayes, Aaron Hayes, Autumn Hayes, Emmylou (Joe) Keehr, Russell Hayes, and Randy Hayes; and great-grandchildren, Walter and Maisie Moberg and Cheyenne and Hailey Keehr; sisters, Lorae Vardas, Carol (Norman) Hamann, and brother, Alban (Donella) Schmidtbauer; sister-in-law, Bernadette Schmidtbauer along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Larry Schmidtbauer, Melvin Schmidtbauer, Alan Schmidtbauer, and Lois Zimmerman.

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Leon J. Schmidtbauer

September 7, 1937 - June 4, 2025