Leo S. Havlik
BAGLEY, DARLINGTON, Wis. — Leo S. Havlik, 86, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison.
Leo was born in Milwaukee on June 28, 1928, to Sam and Mary (Volnec) Havlik. He grew up on a farm near Montfort, Wis. He graduated from Montfort High School and went on to receive his degrees from the teacher’s college in Platteville, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Superior. He began his career teaching ag in Ontario, where he met the love of his life, Loreta “Rita” Ferries.
They married March 24, 1951, in Belton, Texas, while Leo was completing basic training in the U.S. Army. They were blessed with three children: David Havlik of Ontario, Debra (Steve) Pickett of Darlington, Wis., and Diane Kappe of Monroe, Wis.
Other survivors include Leo’s grandchildren: Brent (Sarah) Havlik, Bryan (Shannon) Havlik, and Ashley Havlik, Kristen (John Perkins) Pickett, Abbie (Chris) Schmit, Ethan Pickett and McKenzie Pickett, Amanda (Andrew) Quarne and James (Alaina) Markham; his great-grandchildren, Chandra, Jaden, and Payton; Olivia, Gavin, Asher and Violet Havlik; Jakhia and Damarion Gray, Nesiah and Zaylon Gipson; Parker Jones, Sarianna Quarne, and Rhiannon Quarne; Henry Perkins; and Norah Schmit; his brother, Richard (Cheryl) Havlik; his brothers-in-law, Donald Ferries and Earl G. (Paulette) Ferries; his sisters-in-law, Fern Hutchison, Arlene Ferries and Loreen Hendricks; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son-in-law, Gary Kappe; his sister-in-law, Jeanette Ferries; his brothers-in-law, “Chick” Hutchison and Dean Ferries; and a nephew, Dale Havlik.
Leo loved education and worked in Barneveld, Bagley, Mattoon, Bear Creek, Benton and Weston school districts, retiring in 1975 to Bagley, where he and Rita began L’s Ceramic & Bait Shop, which they ran until Loreta’s death in January 2005. Leo was a member of the Bagley American Legion and Zion Lutheran Church. Leo enjoyed traveling, fishing, visiting with family and friends, and above all, he adored his dog, Corky.
A celebration of life will be from 1–3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at Bridges Restaurant, Highway 81, Darlington.
