LeRoy Hemmer

LeRoy Hemmer, age 94, of Howard, died Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society in Howard. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, Ocober 9, 2021, at the Willoughby Funeral Home in Howard. Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Saturday.

LeRoy Edward Hemmer was born on March 14, 1927, north of Howard. He went to school through the 8th grade in the Canova area. He farmed all his life north of Canova until retirement in 1994.

LeRoy married Thelma Wallwin at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard on December 7, 1962. A son, Joseph LeRoy, was born to the union on June 10, 1963. LeRoy adopted Thelma’s daughter, Mary Ann. Thelma passed away on September 20, 1966.

The family grew in November of 1969 when LeRoy married Bonnie Paige. Bonnie had three daughters (Starr, Edna, & Dee) and they had one daughter (Jodie) together.

LeRoy & Bonnie retired in 1994 and moved to Madison in 1995. They lived there until 2018 when they moved into the Good Samaritan Society in Howard, SD. LeRoy & Bonnie loved all kinds of dancing and were active in the Senior Center in Madison.

Over the years LeRoy was a board member of the Canova Lumber Yard and an elder at St John’s Lutheran Church in Howard. He also planted trees for the ASCS office and volunteered at Prairie Village after his retirement. He also helped various farmers with field work.

LeRoy is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and 6 children: Mary (Robert) Van Emmerik, Starr Cheeseman & special friend (Rick Griffith), Edna (Brian) Jorgensen, Dee Wilson, Joe Hemmer & special friend (Colleen Healy), Jodie (Rod) Gluhm; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Gene Van Emmerik.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his first wife, Thelma; parents, August & Minnie Hemmer; sister, Helen Van Emmerik; infant sister, Delores Hemmer; granddaughter, Brandi Lueders; and son-in-law, Lynn Cheeseman.