MINDEN — LeRoy Elray Finnigsmier, 68, of Heartwell died Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, at Bethany Home in Minden.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Minden with the Rev. Christopher Hazzard officiating. Private family burial with military honors will be at Eaton Cemetery near Heartwell before services.
Visitation will be 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday at Craig Funeral Home in Minden.
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He passed away after years of battling chronic illness. He was surrounded by many who cared for him.
LeRoy was born on Jan. 17, 1951, in Kearney to Harley and Irene (Carter) Finnigsmier. He attended schools in Minden until the 10th grade. He then attended school in Kearney and graduated from Kearney High School with the class of 1969.
LeRoy was drafted to serve his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and did so honorably from May 13, 1970, to Jan. 11, 1972.
LeRoy then met Marta Brehm, they married and were blessed with three daughters, Mandi, Jami and Nicci. The couple later divorced. The family made their home in Heartwell.
LeRoy worked for local farmers and Cargill in Heartwell until retiring after 25 years. He was an active member of the Heartwell Veterans of Foreign Wars and Heartwell Lions Club. LeRoy loved collecting McDonald’s toys, fishing, restoring his 1958 Chevrolet Apache truck and being his own carpenter.
Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Mandi (Shawn) Lupkes of Minden, Jami (Bill) Maendele of Kearney and Nicci (Paul) Young of Lexington, Mo.; grandchildren, Gage Lupkes, Gavin Lupkes, Serina Maendele, Hailey Maendele, Aniston Maendele, Grant Young and Kasey Young; stepgrandchild, Tyson Brown; sister, Barb Holland of Tulsa, Okla.; stepsiblings, June Espenhover, Lee Huddleston and Dale Huddleston; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Duane; and stepmother, Nellie.
Memorials in LeRoy’s honor are kindly suggested to the Heartwell VFW Post 5537 or to the Heartwell Lions Club.
Tributes of memory can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com.