Leo Carl Walz, age 84 of Stapleton, Nebraska died on November 27, 2020, at his home. Leo was born October 14, 1936, in North Platte, Nebraska to Carl and Regina (Becker) Walz. He graduated from Stapleton High School in 1954.
On April 20, 1960, he married Veda Charlene Deterding in Stapleton. They enjoyed 60 wonderful years of marriage and were blessed with three children: Jeana, Denise and Rex.
Leo trucked for twelve years starting in 1958, hauling numerous loads of livestock and supplies, making friends wherever he went.
Leo and Charlene made their home ten miles south of Stapleton farming and ranching. He loved tending the land and raising cattle, along with attending grandchildren’s events.
They moved into Stapleton in 2001, but Leo's heart never left the farm and he continued going out to work up until a couple of months ago when diagnosed with lung cancer.
Leo was a lifelong member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Stapleton and his Catholic faith was the center point of his life including daily Mass.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Vincent and Virgil, and In-Laws c.c. (Felix) and Marie Deterding.
Leo is survived by his wife, Charlene; daughter Jeana (Rex) Hanna and son Rex (Kristie) Walz all of Stapleton, and daughter Denise (Tony) Smith of North Platte, NE; nine grandchildren: Tenille (Jeff) Boyd, Derek (Todd Lewandowski, Jr.) Hanna, Sawyer (Alecia) Hanna, Trevor Hanna, Toby (Dani) Smith, Tasha Smith, Jon (Molly) Walz, Todd (Lyndi) Walz and Luke (Molly) Walz. He also had nine great-grandchildren.
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Catholic Church or St. John's Cemetery and online condolences can be made at adamsswanson.com. Current guidelines will be followed and masks will be required.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday December 4, 2020 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Stapleton, NE with Rev. Thomas Gudipalli as celebrant and Rev. Matthew Nash and Rev. Jim Hunt as con-celebrants. Christian Wake services will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday December 3, 2020 at St. John’s. Burial will be at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Stapleton. The casket will be closed. Register book can be signed Thursday from noon until 4:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte, NE.