Leonard Jerry Sumbera passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 at 6 p.m. in Schulenburg with his wife by his side. He reached the age of 82 years, 7 months, 5 days.
Funeral services were set for Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at 11 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church in St. John, with Msgr. John Peters officiating and interment in the church cemetery.
Named to serve as pallbearers were nephews Jeff Holub, Walter Hermis and Fred Hermis; and grandsons Ross Sumbera, Corey Sumbera, Clay Sumbera and Jackson Klein.
Rosary was set for Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at 10 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church.
Born on May 10, 1940 at Ammannsville, he was the son of Jerry and Toni (Mazoch) Sumbera. He attended Radhost School and graduated from La Grange High School. He moved to Houston in 1960 and met Grace Hermis in 1961. They were married on June 1, 1963, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg. Leonard served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston. He attended technical school and became a stationary engineer, working at Baylor College of Medicine for almost 20 years. After that, he started working at Houston Lighting & Power where he spent the remainder of his career before he retired in 2002. After retiring, he moved to St. John and enjoyed farming, dancing, picnics, gardening and spending time with family and friends. Leonard and Grace loved traveling far and wide to enjoy polka dancing with each other and making friends from around the country. He always had the best stories and loved to share them with anyone who would listen. He was well-known for his constant smile and kind, positive attitude. He was a hard-working, loving and committed husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, His favorite memories were those spent surrounded by his family at the farm.
Survivors include his wife, Grace; three sons, Darrell Sumbera and wife Kim, Don Sumbera and wife Jolie, and Dwayne Sumbera and wife Cindy; eight grandchildren, Ross Sumbera and wife Reagann, Abigail Klein and husband Jackson, Corey Sumbera, Hannah Sumbera, Kaitlyn Sumbera, Kate Sumbera, Clay Sumbera and Vivian Sumbera; two great-grandchildren, John Sumbera and Charlotte Klein; a sister, Virginia Holub and husband Wesley; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
His parents, Jerry and Toni Sumbera, preceded him in death.
Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.