Leonard Joseph Petta

Leonard J. Petta, age 89, of Lincoln, Nebraska, formerly of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband and brother died, Monday, March 26, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 10, 1922 in Marion, Wisconsin to Alex and Mary (Belanger) Petta. Leonard served his country in World War II as an aircraft mechanic based in Texas. He married his high school sweetheart, Rita Lorrig and they shared 62 wonderful years in the little house on Pelican Street before her death in 2006. Leonard and Rita made the best apple pies, grown from the seeds of an apple Leonard had been eating. Leonard worked as a mechanic for the Rhinelander Paper Company for several decades. Ever ready with a wisecrack and a joke, Leonard embodied the best of the "Greatest Generation" with his spirit and optimism. Leonard had a distinctive style: you could pick him out of any crowd -- just look for the little guy with the bright cowboy hat and Green Bay Packer jacket. Leonard loved camping, playing cards, and taking road trips, which he meticulously chronicled down to each mile traveled and breakfast consumed.

Leonard is survived by his children; Jim (Lynn) of Colorado Springs, CO; Mary (Steve) Cole of Corpus Christi, Texas; Nancy of Lincoln; 3 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; a brother, Francis of Rhinelander; special friends, Kate Gaul and Ilse Gorton of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at Nativity of Our Lord – St. Joseph’s site with Father Thomas Thakadipuram officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to mass at church. Hildebrand Russ Funeral Home, 715-365-4343 is assisting the family with arrangements. All are invited to sign Leonard’s guestbook at hildebrandfh.com.