Leonard C. Hebert, age 87, of Marshfield, formerly of Spencer, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at Amara Hospice, after receiving weeks of tender loving care from family and staff at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, in Edinburg, TX.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 6 PM on Friday, January 18 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. Mark Krueger will officiate. Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday at the church in Spencer from 3 PM until the time of services. Time for fellowship and a meal will follow the service. Leonard will be laid to rest at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Brighton, on Monday January 21, beside Claire, his beloved wife of over 65 years. A graveside prayer service is planned for late Spring. The honor of pallbearer belongs to: Holly Dehlinger, Jamie Dehlinger, Makenna Claire Leonhardt, Gavin Leonhardt, Alanna Aschebrook, Jeremy Aschebrook, Noah Aschebrook and Danika Aschebrook.
Leonard Charles Hebert was born on April 28, 1931 on the family farm near Unity, Wisconsin in Clark County to Leo and Hazel (Tibbits) Hebert. He attended the Town of Romeo country school and helped run the family farm beginning at a very young age. He worked at a local cheese factory after leaving the farm and met Claire Cramer while taking guitar lessons with her sister. He and Claire enjoyed going to dances at local ballrooms and riding his motorcycle. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer on December 27, 1950 and resided in Spencer until moving to Marshfield in 2015.
In the early years Leonard drove OTR semi truck for various trucking companies and eventually bought his own semi tractor. He drove semi until he could no longer stand his three girls crying whenever he left to go on the road. In 1957 he bought a local can milk route which he eventually built into a thriving Grade A and B bulk milk hauling service into Clover Cream dairy of Marshfield. He retired from the business in 1987 and spent several months remodeling the family cabin at Pier Lake.
From a young age, his passion was hunting wild game with both gun and bow & arrow, and fishing anywhere the fish were biting. He never missed a deer hunting season unless he was ill. He especially loved hunting white tail deer in Wisconsin, Mule deer in Wyoming and Elk in the Colorado Rockies with family and friends.
Leonard enjoyed playing dart ball league for several years at Trinity Lutheran Church where he was a member for 67 years. He and Claire played cards regularly with friends for years. He was skilled at competitive archery winning numerous trophies.
After retiring from his business, he learned that he had a talent for woodworking and wood art. Over the years he created hundreds of beautiful scroll saw wooden clocks and crafts, Intarsia wood art pictures, and original chip art wooden keepsake boxes.
He is survived by his devoted daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Michael Huber, of Alamo, TX; two beloved granddaughters, Holly (Jamie) Dehlinger of Stratford and Alanna (Jeremy) Aschebrook of Marshfield; as well as two special step grandchildren, Benjamin Vehrs and Keisha (Steve) Holland. He is further survived by his treasured great grandchildren; Noah Aschebrook, Makenna Leonhardt, Danika Aschebrook and Gavin Leonhardt and his beloved canine companions Oreo and Lucy, along with other relatives and many friends.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Claire and daughter Cheryl, son-in-law Daniel Vehrs, sisters Marie and Joan, and his brother John.
If desired, the family is accepting memorials in Leonard’s name for charities to be determined at a later time.
His arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.
