obit

Funeral services for Leo Hennen of Morris will be held Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 10:30 AM at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. Father Tim Baltes will be officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 8 PM with a rosary at 7:30 and a prayer service to follow. Visitation will resume one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Morris. The Morris American Legion, VFW and AmVets will provide military rites.

Leo William Hennen, son of James and Anna (Van Uden) Hennen, was born September 29, 1912 in Marshall, Minnesota. Leo was the 12th of 16 children. He was baptized on October 3, 1912 at the Church of the Holy Redeemer by Reverend E. Damourette. At the young age of seven, Leo’s family moved from Ghent, Minnesota to Synnes Township in Stevens County, Minnesota. On December 8, 1941, Leo enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving in World War II in the South Pacific, where he was a flight crew chief on a B-25 Bomber. After serving 30 months, Leo received an honorable discharge in October, 1945. On October 9, 1946, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Toso at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris. Following their marriage, the couple lived a short time in Minneapolis. In 1949, they moved to Stevens Township in Stevens County to live and farm. In 1953, they moved to Darnen Township, where they continued to farm and raise their 13 children. Leo retired from farming at the age of 73. This was one of the hardest things Leo had to do because farming had been his whole life. Leo and Evelyn remained on the farm until 2007, when they moved to West Central Home in Morris, where they have continued to live since that time.

Leo was a lifetime member of Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, where he served as Eucharistic Minister for 40 years and also served on the St. Mary’s School Board, the St. Cloud Diocesan Council and the church council for years. Leo was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a volunteer at the Villa of St. Francis for many years. Leo and Evelyn gave numerous stewardship talks in parishes throughout the St. Cloud Dioceses. Leo loved watching all sports, especially the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. Leo’s favorite times were having large family gatherings in his home, 4th of July picnics and spending time with his family and friends.

Leo died on Friday, December 10, 2010, surrounded by his loving wife and family. He lived to reach the age of 98 years.

Leo is survived by his wife of 64 years, Evelyn Hennen of Morris; 12 children: Barb (Dick) Shubert of Missoula, MT, Barry (Susan) Hennen of Morris, Chuck (Becky) Hennen of Morris, Bonnie (Reid) Berger of Hayward, WI, Kathy (Jerry) Bruns of Morris, Mary (Randy) Schumacher of Forest Lake, Joanie (Mike) Kopel of Donnelly, Jenny (Gregg) Gunter of Cottage Grove, Jim (Becky) Hennen of Norwood-Young America, Dan (Dee) Hennen of Norwood-Young America, Tony (Amy) Hennen of Carmel, IN and Sarah (Jim) Hurd of Fridley; 38 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and daughter-in-law: Kara Robertson of Morris. He was preceded in death by one son: Edward Hennen; two grandsons: Blake and Bradley Hennen; his parents and ten brothers and five sisters.

Pallbearers for the service are: Mark Pashen, Coby Bruns, Eric Hennen, Andy Hennen, Tyler Kopel, Kyle Hennen, Alex Henrichs and Nick Hennen. Honorary pallbearers are all of Leo’s grandchildren. Linda Hodgson will serve as pianist for the service with Ken Hodgson serving as soloist/song leader. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.

To send condolences to the family, visit www.pedersenfh.com.