Leo J. Plass

Leo J. Plass

Born Jan. 20, 1914, in Boyd, Wis., he was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942. He was in the North African and European campaigns from 1942 to 1945 and received an honorable discharge. He died at 99 at Lake Hallie Memory Care in Chippewa Falls, Wis., with family at his side. He was given an honorable military burial at St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery in Boyd on July 22, 2013. He was a member of American Legion Post 326 in Boyd.

Before and after World War II he had 3 Pipe Cub airplanes, one of which was painted yellow. The game wardens' planes were painted yellow. His favorite thing was to fly low in the winter over ice-covered lakes and watch fishermen (presumably w/o fishing licenses) scatter.

After the war he worked as a mechanic at the local Chevrolet dealership. He had his own electronic repair business, which he gave up on with the advent of color TVs. He then was a rural-route mail carrier in Boyd until his retirement. He and his wife Helen traveled extensively in the United States, visiting New York, Wall Drug Store, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, the Grand Old Opry, the Museum of Science & Industry, and family in Denver, Galveston, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Hackensack (Minn.) and Seattle.

He had a dry wit. He enjoyed his grandchildren. On his travels he picked up anything interesting, such as sayings ("If you don't have anything to do, don't do it here"), toys and puzzles.

The family had a hobby farm of about 7 acres that provided eggs, pork and beef, and a small income from the sale of some animals. The four boys had reign of the place, and they are still amazed they made it to adulthood without major injury.

He taught his four sons electrical, mechanical, auto repair, hunting and gun safety, and how to be good adults. He made sure the boys and his wife always had food on the table and many happy days.

Dad/Husband - you will be missed!