HARTINGTON, Neb. - Ralph Joseph Leise, age 80 of Hartington, Nebraska, died of a heart attack on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington with the Rev. John Pietramale officiating. Burial will be at St. Michael's Cemetery in Hartington.

Visitation will be on Friday at Church from 3-8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Pallbearers will be Dan Leise, Jim Leise, Jim Anderson, Jim Brummer, Jeff Leise and Curt Loecker.

Ralph Joseph Leise was born on February 10, 1928 in Hartington, Nebraska to Joseph and Agatha (Becker) Leise. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1945, and served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. Ralph married Charlotte A. Brummer on April 14, 1953 in Bow Valley. He and Charlotte lived on the Leise family farm, east of Hartington, for fifty years of their married life. Ralph worked for the ASCS office in Cedar County for twenty-three years, and farmed well into retirement.

Ralph was an active member of Holy Trinity parish in Hartington, and was a member of the American Legion Post #31 in Wynot. Ralph was a 50 year Knights of Columbus member. He loved baseball and Notre Dame football, and will be remembered sitting in his favorite La-Z-Boy listening to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games on his transistor radio. He also enjoyed spending time with and nicknaming his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, and by his children and their spouses, Michael Leise of Omaha, Steve and Brenda Leise of Hartington, Tom and Lisa Leise of Omaha, and Karen (Leise) and Randy Henke of Yutan, NE; brothers Harold Leise of Hartington and Gene Leise of Red Wing, MN, sisters Elaine Leise of Omaha, NE and Monica Loberg of Carroll, NE, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren (KD, Niff, And, Care Bear, JB, Daner, Popcorn, EJ, Punker and TJ).

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents.

Yankton Press & Dakotan

March 28, 2008