Leonard Rudolph Brezina, 24 May 1933 - 18 Feb 2023

BREZINA, BALVIN, KOTEZY, LERCH, PICKETT, LOUGHRY, KRETSINGER, CRAIG-BREZINA, HARTMEYER, EMERSON, CLINE, TUBBS, ZACH, LUND, NOVOTNY

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 2/22/2023 at 15:14:24

Leonard Rudolph Brezina, 89, of Cedar Rapids, entered into glory with the Lord on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Compass Memorial Hospital in Marengo, Iowa. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW, where military rites will be conducted. Celebration of Life will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at Brosh Chapel. Burial will be in Raetz Cemetery, west of Atkins.

Leonard was born May 24, 1933, in Montour, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Rose (Balvin) Brezina. Leonard served in the United States Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate from 1951-1954. Leonard was very proud of his military service and serving his country.

Leonard worked for Evergreen Packaging for 35 years and had many years of notable perfect work attendance. Leonard took great pride in his yard, flowers, garden but the most joy was time spent with family. Leonard enjoyed his Czech heritage, love of kolache’s and Sunday morning polka music. Leonard was a man of great faith who truly loved his Lord and Savior. He was a pillar of strength for his family, he was also humble, kind, and tender-hearted.

Leonard was united in marriage to Janice Kotezy in 1957 and from this union he was blessed with three children. In 1988, he married Ingeborg Lerch.

Leonard is survived by his wife Ingeborg; children Dorrance Brezina (Lori) of Urbandale, Iowa; Jonie Pickett (Jack) of Rockton, Illinois; Philip Brezina of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Step-daughter Lisa Loughry (Roger) of Marengo, Iowa, Allen Lerch of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lance Lerch (Mary) of Crescent, Iowa; a granddaughter, Brooklyn Kretsinger (Wade) of Rockton, Illinois; grandson Theodore Craig-Brezina (Megan) of Kailua, Hawaii; great grandchildren Peyton, Reid, Brady, and great granddaughter Gianna Kretsinger of Rockton, Illinois. 10 Step-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Siblings: Gladys Brezina of Toledo, Iowa, Rosie Hartmeyer of Belle Plaine, Margie (Rodney) Emerson of Belle Plaine, Marcella (Jim) Cline of Swisher, Arlene (Bill) Tubbs of Swisher, Richard Brezina of Cedar Rapids, Caroline Zach of Guttenberg and Bernard (Sharon) Brezina of Tama; 4 sister-in-laws as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edward (Maisie) and Joe Brezina Jr, sister Lillian Lund, and dearest grandson Benjamin Novotny.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed to the famiy at www.broshchapel.com.

Published in The Gazette on February 21, 2023.