Leo Pirsch

Leo R. Pirsch, age 98, of Willmar, died Sunday afternoon, February 14, one day after his 98th birthday, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 19, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be at St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Olivia. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. with a Knight of Columbus Rosary Service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Leo R. Pirsch was born on February 13, 1918, in Olivia, Minnesota, the son of Leo R. and Sadie (Gausmel) Pirsch. He grew up in Olivia, was baptized and confirmed at St. Aloysius Catholic Church and graduated from Olivia High School in 1935. Leo attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota and lettered on the baseball team. He remained a steadfast University of Minnesota sports booster all his life.

Leo worked for the Internal Revenue Service in St. Paul and Mankato in the 1940's where he met Kathleen Weir. They were married on March 6, 1943. The couple returned to Olivia in 1945 to support the family finance business following the untimely death of his father.

Leo played town team baseball for Mankato, Sleepy Eye and Olivia throughout the 1940's. He was named an All State Second Baseman and a player/manager for the Olivia Blue Sox that won the West Central Championship and went on to place third in the state tournament.

When his oldest son was born developmentally disabled, Leo and his wife Kathleen became early and strong advocates for developmentally disabled students in public schools.   Leo was elected to the Olivia Public School Board of Education and became its chairperson.  With Kathleen's strong support he was instrumental in getting Bird Island, Olivia, and Lake Lillian school districts to collaborate in support of developmentally disabled students. Each district specialized in programs for different aged students, allowing these students to participate in class with their peers.

In 1964,  Leo was asked to join a group from Willmar establishing a new bank in the city.  The bank opened in October 1964 with Leo as Vice President.  The successful bank was purchased by Heritage National Bank in the late 1970's. At that point he was president of the bank, president of West Central Insurance Agency, President of Willmar Opportunities, and President of Mobile Estates, an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club and a trustee of the Elks Club. During the 1970's Leo was very active with the DFL Party in Renville County.

Leo and Kathleen were active world travelers and visited most of the continents, and almost every US state, frequently spending the winter months in Maui, Hawaii. He enjoyed golfing, playing card games, especially bridge and solitaire, and watching/attending various sporting events. In 2012, he married Irene Weis and they also traveled and wintered in warm weather.

Leo is survived by his wife, Irene Weis of Willmar; four sons, Leo Robert "Bob" Pirsch and Steve Pirsch, both of Willmar, Michael Pirsch of Bangkok, Thailand, John Pirsch (and Kathleen Cronin) of Seattle, WA.; three daughters, Kathy Pirsch of Boise, ID., Ann Pirsch (and Lawrence Gregulho) and Susan Pirsch, both of Maui, HI.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his sister, Pat Sanvik of Houston TX., besides many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is special family friend, Diane Osteraas of Willmar, who has shown selflessness and uncommon grace to our family. We also deeply appreciate Irene, her children and family, for their love shown to our father.

Leo was preceded in death by his first wife, Kathleen in March of 2010; and brother-in-law, Randy Sanvik.

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