LeRoy Dale Perkins, 76, passed away peacefully October 24, 2014. He made his journey to the heavens, surrounded by loving family at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. He was born in La Farge on July 16, 1938, to Keith and Cleo (Dickson) Perkins, who lived on Sugar Grove Ridge.
Lee, as he was known around home, had two older sisters, Rose Marie and Mary Jane; a brother, Elden (known as Petie); and two younger sisters, Judy and Linda. He attended elementary school at Sugar Grove School and church at the Sugar Grove Methodist Church, located across from the family farm. He attended Westby High School and graduated in 1956.
After graduation from high school, he worked as a depot agent for the Northwestern Railroad. In 1959, he returned to school at Vernon County Teachers College in Viroqua and graduated with a teaching degree. Then he began teaching seventh and eighth grades in Readstown.
In 1957, he met Donna Amundson, whom he later married on Aug. 14, 1960. Lee and Donna purchased the root beer stand in Westby in 1962. In the meantime, “Perk,” as LeRoy became known, was teaching and attending La Crosse State Teachers College on Saturdays and summers to earn his bachelor’s degree. He later attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his master’s degree in administration.
In the fall of 1965, Perk began a new job at Norwalk Grade School as a seventh- and eighth-grade English teacher. In 1966, he went to Brookwood (Norwalk-Ontario) to teach English in the junior high. In 1969, he became principal of Brookwood Junior/Senior High School. Following his retirement, he enjoyed substitute teaching in several area schools.
LeRoy and Donna owned Borgen’s Cafe from 1973-2006. He enjoyed cooking, baking, and visiting with customers.
LeRoy was an overly ambitious person who loved to do things for others. He took a sincere interest in his family, students and faculty. His philosophy was to share what you have and try to leave the world a better place in which to live. He dearly loved his family and tried to give them worthwhile experiences. He loved music and anything connected with it, such as playing piano, dancing, singing, or musicals. His energy and spirit were untiring. He was especially proud of his daughters, who are all teachers.
LeRoy was involved in many activities, including Syttende Mai, Westby Area Band Parents, 1976 Time Capsule, and the Advisory Board for Norseland Nursing Home, and was a past president of Western Wisconsin Teachers Association. He also planted sugar maple trees near Norseland Nursing Home in honor of past presidents and mayors of the City of Westby for Wisconsin’s sesquicentennial.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Donna, and three daughters, Cathy (Rich) Steidl of Eau Claire, Pam (Bob) Siewert of Arcadia, and Eileen (Luke) Howard of Eau Claire. He is further survived by eight grandchildren, Paul and Jonathan Steidl of Eau Claire, Faith, Hope, Charles and Jeremiah Siewert of Arcadia, and Isabelle and Eli Howard of Eau Claire; his sisters, Mary Jane (Rueben) Prail of Janesville, Minn., and Linda (LaVerne) Berg of Winnebago, Ill.; his brother, Elden (Marlene) Perkins of Sparta; his brothers-in-law, Herb Hoppe of Neenah, Allen Berger of Westby and David Amundson of Cashton; his sisters-in-law, Jean Amundson of Sparta and Karla Amundson of Rockland; a special babysitter and friend, Doris Lium of Westby; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Cleo; two sisters, Rose Marie Hoppe and Judy Berger; his father- and mother-in-law, Elmer and Alice Amundson; his brother-in-law, Roger Amundson; and a dear cousin, Esther Mossholder.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Blessed be his memory.
A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Westby United Methodist Church. Pastor Jim Aniol will officiate. Burial will follow at the Immanuel (Moen) Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Cashton. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby.
Family and friends also are invited for visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Bethel Butikk Food Pantry, Gundersen Lutheran Hospice, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. The Vosseteig Funeral Home is assisting the family.
