Buryanek, Leonard 1924 - 2011

BURYANEK, KOHOUT, SCHUMACHER

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/22/2011 at 12:33:18

WESTFIELD, Iowa -- Leonard Buryanek, 87, of Westfield passed away Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Akron. Deacon Richard Port will officiate. Military rites will be conducted by Hoschler American Legion Post 186 of Akron. Private family interment will be in Westfield Cemetery in Westfield, Iowa. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Friday, with the family present 5 to 7 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home - Schroeder Chapel in Akron, Iowa. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church and following the service during a time of fellowship at St. Patrick's Parish Hall. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family throughwww.carlsenfuneralhome.com.

Leonard Buryanek was born May 6, 1924, in Westfield, Iowa, the son of Adolph and Bessie (Kohout) Buryanek. He was raised in the Westfield area and attended country school near Westfield. He helped his father on the family farm and took over the farming operation after his father's sudden passing.

Leonard enlisted in the United States Army on March 19, 1946, at Fort Snelling, Minn. Leonard served in the Occupation Force while stationed in Japan after World War II. He attained the rank of T/5. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 31, 1947, at Fort Lawton, Wash. Following his discharge, he returned to the Westfield area and continued farming.

He was united in marriage to Theresa "Tess" Schumacher on Dec. 29, 1951, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. They made their home in the Westfield area. Later on, Leonard did carpentry work, operated a gas station and was a sub mail carrier in Westfield before beginning his 50-year career with Higman Sand and Gravel in Akron. Following his retirement, Leonard continued to help out at Higman's when needed.

Leonard was very active through the years, having served as mayor of Westfield and serving on the City Council. He also served on the Westfield School Board and was a member of the Westfield Lions Club and the Hoschler American Legion Post 186 in Akron.

Leonard was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He helped start the Little League baseball program in Westfield and coached for many years. He also enjoyed throwing horseshoes and was on the Westfield Horseshoe team for 15 years. Leonard enjoyed playing pinochle, hunting and fishing. One of Leonard's greatest passions was planting and harvesting his "victory garden" every year. But most of all, he loved the times spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife of over 59 years, Tess of Westfield; his five children, Donald Buryanek (Sue) of Wayne, Neb., Pat Conley (Mike) of Sioux City, Gary Buryanek (Kim) of Hawarden, Iowa, Doug Buryanek (Leslie) of Akron, and Julie Hitchcock (John) of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five sisters, Vera Diediker of Laurel, Neb., Mildred Wetrosky (Clyde) of Pequot Lakes, Minn., Betty Philips (Bob) of Augusta, Wis., Mary Osborn (Roger) of Kellogg, Iowa, and Marlis Asprey (Frank) of Sacramento, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Delores Buryanek of Westfield, Iowa, and Ann Buryanek of Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister and her husband, Helen and Buster Tindall; a brother and his wife, Frank and Marlene Buryanek; a brother, Jim Buryanek; and two brothers-in-law, Donald Diediker and Arnold Bollhoefer.

Sioux City Journal
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Sioux City, Iowa