January 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017
Lee was born January 15, 1922 to Peter and Katherine (Kaiser) Kirsch, in Stratford, WI. He graduated from Stratford High School in 1940. In 1944 he enlisted in the United States Army. Lee served in the 836th Engineering Aviation Battalion as a TEC 5, stationed in Japan and the Philippines.
In 1947, Lee moved to Monroe and made it his home. That year he enrolled in the Dairy Manufacturing Course at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked for Kraft until 1953, and Bowman Diary until 1958. In 1958, Lee became an insurance agent with Bankers Life Insurance (Principal) of Des Moines, Iowa until his retirement in 1998.
Lee loved the community of Monroe, living in the city for 70 years. On September 18, 1954, he married the love of his life, Joan Taylor. Together they had four daughters over the next five years. Lee was a faithful member of St. Victor Parish, serving as commentator, usher, and volunteer including Apostolate to the Handicapped over the years. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, serving in many capacities. He was a member of the Jaycees, serving as a State Vice President, District Director and first outstanding member in 1958. He was also a member of the Green County Board of Supervisors for 25 years, Green county Fair Board for 10 years, and served on the Cheese Days committee for several years.
Lee was an avid golfer for many seasons at his favorite course, Windy Acres. During the winter months, he and Joan went to warmer climates so he could continue to play. He traveled extensively, but was always happy to return home to Monroe.
Lee is survived by his daughters, Ann Keen-Berg, Janesville, WI; Marie (Robert) Weisbrod, Cottage Grove, MN; Patricia Kirsch, Kirkland, WA; and Julie (Douglas) Batien, Mosinee, WI. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Elizabeth Keen (Erin Swetland), Peter (Emily) Keen, Margaret Keen, Jennifer Berg, Alison Pream, Timothy (Shannon) Weisbrod, Anastasia (Kurt) Albers, Leandra (Laura) Batien, Olivia Batien-DeCleene (Michael DeCleene), Elyse Batien, and great-grandchildren, Sarah and Molly Pream; Nolan and Charles Weisbrod; and Abigail Keen. He is further survived by his sister, Helen Hoff; sister-in-laws Rita Kirsch, and MaryLou Kirsch; brother-in-law, William (Rita) Meyer; and many nieces and nephews.
Leander was preceded in death by his wife Joan; his parents; son-in-law John Berg; sisters, Lillian, Lucile, Cyrilla, and Marion; brothers, Hilary, Roland, and Jerome; a brother Raymond and sister Marjorie in infancy.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 3, 2017 with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Victor Church (St. Claire of Assisi Parish) at 12:00 pm. Visitation, along with a rosary, will be at the church starting at 10:00 am until the start of mass. Military graveside services will be at Calvary Cemetery following the mass. The Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net.
The family would like to thank the staff at Monroe Clinic Hospital and Pleasant View Nursing Home for their care, compassion, and support of our dad and grandpa these past few months.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made in Lee's name to St. Victor Catholic Church for the new gathering space and handicapped accessible entrance that he very much wanted to see built.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." -John 11: 25-26
Lee was born January 15, 1922 to Peter and Katherine (Kaiser) Kirsch, in Stratford, WI. He graduated from Stratford High School in 1940. In 1944 he enlisted in the United States Army. Lee served in the 836th Engineering Aviation Battalion as a TEC 5, stationed in Japan and the Philippines.
In 1947, Lee moved to Monroe and made it his home. That year he enrolled in the Dairy Manufacturing Course at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked for Kraft until 1953, and Bowman Diary until 1958. In 1958, Lee became an insurance agent with Bankers Life Insurance (Principal) of Des Moines, Iowa until his retirement in 1998.
Lee loved the community of Monroe, living in the city for 70 years. On September 18, 1954, he married the love of his life, Joan Taylor. Together they had four daughters over the next five years. Lee was a faithful member of St. Victor Parish, serving as commentator, usher, and volunteer including Apostolate to the Handicapped over the years. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, serving in many capacities. He was a member of the Jaycees, serving as a State Vice President, District Director and first outstanding member in 1958. He was also a member of the Green County Board of Supervisors for 25 years, Green county Fair Board for 10 years, and served on the Cheese Days committee for several years.
Lee was an avid golfer for many seasons at his favorite course, Windy Acres. During the winter months, he and Joan went to warmer climates so he could continue to play. He traveled extensively, but was always happy to return home to Monroe.
Lee is survived by his daughters, Ann Keen-Berg, Janesville, WI; Marie (Robert) Weisbrod, Cottage Grove, MN; Patricia Kirsch, Kirkland, WA; and Julie (Douglas) Batien, Mosinee, WI. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Elizabeth Keen (Erin Swetland), Peter (Emily) Keen, Margaret Keen, Jennifer Berg, Alison Pream, Timothy (Shannon) Weisbrod, Anastasia (Kurt) Albers, Leandra (Laura) Batien, Olivia Batien-DeCleene (Michael DeCleene), Elyse Batien, and great-grandchildren, Sarah and Molly Pream; Nolan and Charles Weisbrod; and Abigail Keen. He is further survived by his sister, Helen Hoff; sister-in-laws Rita Kirsch, and MaryLou Kirsch; brother-in-law, William (Rita) Meyer; and many nieces and nephews.
Leander was preceded in death by his wife Joan; his parents; son-in-law John Berg; sisters, Lillian, Lucile, Cyrilla, and Marion; brothers, Hilary, Roland, and Jerome; a brother Raymond and sister Marjorie in infancy.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 3, 2017 with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Victor Church (St. Claire of Assisi Parish) at 12:00 pm. Visitation, along with a rosary, will be at the church starting at 10:00 am until the start of mass. Military graveside services will be at Calvary Cemetery following the mass. The Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net.
The family would like to thank the staff at Monroe Clinic Hospital and Pleasant View Nursing Home for their care, compassion, and support of our dad and grandpa these past few months.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made in Lee's name to St. Victor Catholic Church for the new gathering space and handicapped accessible entrance that he very much wanted to see built.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." -John 11: 25-26