Robert G. Leibfried

 Robert G. Bob Leibfried, age 79, of Lancaster, Wisconsin died on November 12, 2009 at Finley Hospital in  Dubuque, Iowa. He was born on April 17, 1930, in Potosi Wisconsin, the son of Walter and Catherine (Reynolds) Leibfried. On July 2, 1955 he married Marcella Sally Burggraf at St. Charles Catholic Church in  Cassville, Wisconsin.

In 1947, he enlisted in the Marines and celebrated his 18^th birthday in China. He served in the 1^st Marine Division from 1947 to 1949 in the China communist takeover and 1950 to 1952 in the Korean conflict. After returning from service he was employed at Farley and Loetecher in Dubuque, Iowa. After the plant closed he became the building engineer and plant operator at Lancaster Memorial Hospital and enjoyed 26 years in that position. He considered the hospital employees his extended family. He also was morning and athletic bus driver for 19 years for the Lancaster School System.

In 1982 he was diagnosed with Wegeners Vasculitis (inflammation of the small blood vessels). Vasculitis affects the vital organs and in 1987 he suffered complete kidney failure. He was on home dialysis until March 5, 1988 when at UW Madison Hospital he received The Gift of Life which was a donated cadaver kidney from an anonymous lady who died March 4, 1988. It was a successful transplant.

He was a member of the William Pollock VFW Post No. 2344 of Lancaster and the North China Marine Association and he was a former member of the  Lancaster Fire Department.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing trips to Canada with his son, Mike in earlier years. In later years he spent many hours watching history documentaries. He always accepted life as it was handed to him and was uncomplaining.

He is survived by wife, Sally. One loving son, Michael R and wife Skippy who was a very special person in his life. two grandsons, Robert M. of Casper Wyoming and Kurt W. who were the center of his life. His mother, Catherine, four sisters: Catherine Kate (Larry Laker Schildgen) Schindler, Mary (Rodger) Janssen, all of  Lancaster. Helen (Donavan) Krohn, Verona, Wisconsin and Joan (Leonard) Stich, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

He is also survived by his sister-in-laws Marita Seitz, Praire du Chien, Wisconsin, Dolores (Jiggs) Hampton, Lancaster, Wisconsin and brother-in-law Norbert (Dot) Burggraf of Cave Creek, Arizona and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Walter, brother, Thomas and niece, Sharon Krohn, his father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Laura (Kelly) Burggraf, brother-in-law, Frank Seitz, brother and sister-in-law, Arnold (Dolores) Burggraf.

He was most grateful for the loving care and thoughtfulness of wife Sally and the support of his entire family.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster with Fr. William Seipp officiating. Private family burial with military honors was in the St. Clement Cemetery, Lancaster at a later date. There was no public visitation prior to the funeral service. Family and friends were invited to a reception following the funeral in the St. Clement Gymnasium.

Memorials may be given to the Wisconsin Kidney Foundation in memory of Bob Leibfried.

Bob had care from the medical field that was second to none. How proud and grateful we are to the staff at Grant Community clinic, Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster and Tri State Dialysis in   Platteville, Wisconsin. Compassion was shown at a place he worked for so many years. They were like his extended family.