LEONARD PANZER

Leonard Panzer, age 80, of Maple Park, IL, passed away, Tuesday, September 6, 2022, and is now free and whole again, claiming the promise of his Savior.

He was born March 1, 1942, in Elmhurst, IL, to proud parents, Henry and Hulda Panzer.

Leonard grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Roselle, IL. He attended local schools but graduated from the School Of Hard Knocks, taking the reigns of the farm, caring for the livestock and tending the rolling fields.

Leonard routinely was up before the sunrise and labored long after the moon had taken it’s place. He was caretaker for God’s gift and helper to Mother Nature, marveling at honoring a pact to keep and love the land as if it were his own.

He was a faithful and longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sycamore, IL.

Though Leonard was dedicated to the farm, he was able to enjoy the challenge of knocking down all ten pins on his bowling team, and never missed feeding the birds, as he was on schedule for refilling the feeder with new seed every 4 days. He had a pet rooster, that remained nameless, but nevertheless was a constant companion on the farm. When Leonard did get to rest, he never missed the 5 o’clock news and he was a classic “Wheel Watcher”, never missing an episode of Wheel of Fortune; Heaven help you if you tried to interrupt. Spending time on the front porch, entertaining anyone who darkened his doorway with stories, new and old, always gave him a smile. His mind remained sharp doing puzzles of every shape, kind and color, and never was there a word search he couldn’t conquer. Leonard loved mowing his yard on his trusty John Deere Tractor but switched to his vintage John Deere for the Steam Power Show in Sycamore every year. Leonard was one of a kind, whose friendships spanned decades and who will be missed for even longer.

He is survived by his sister Dorothy (Arnold) Grimm; a niece, Donna (Brian) Tennis; one nephew, Warren Grimm; 2 great-nephews, Benjamin and Andrew Grimm and a countryside full of friends.

He now joins his parents, Henry and Hulda Panzer; one brother Erwin Panzer; and one niece, Carol Grimm.

Visitation will be at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 26555 Brickville Rd, Sycamore, IL 60178, from 10-12, Monday, with a funeral service to follow at 12 p.m., September 12, 2022. Rev. Timothy Frick will officiate with interment to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Schaumburg, IL.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 26555 Brickville Rd, Sycamore, IL 60178 or Lutheran Hour Ministries, at www.lhm.org. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.