Reinhardt Leu

Reinhardt Leu (Col. USMC Ret.) of Falmouth, Virginia, 93, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2015. He died surrounded and supported by family and loved ones. Col. Leu was a loving and respected father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and husband. His kindness and love extended beyond immediate family and included many friends. Anyone who met Col. Leu quickly recognized his warmth and leadership.

Col. Leu was born on February 27, 1921 in Hodgkins, Illinois. His parents, Reinhardt and Agnes Leu, instilled in him the foundations of spirituality and love of family. He attended the Lutheran Church in his hometown of Hodgkins and grew up enjoying sports and spending time outdoors hunting and fishing. An early passion of Col. Leu’s was golf. Inspired as a caddy at a local country club in his youth, he later became a repeat championship player at Fredericksburg Country Club. Never boastful, he nonetheless took pride in his later golfing years of posting scores for a round of golf that were shy of his age, accomplishing that feat over a number of years.

Col. Leu attended Valparaiso University in Indiana. He later joined the United States Marine Corps to serve his Country during World War II. He was a decorated aviator and ultimately rose to the rank of Colonel. His missions took him throughout the world – including the battles of Tarawa, Guadalcanal and Bougainville.

After WWII, Col. Leu served with distinction in Korea and Vietnam and as a member of the United Nations peace-keeping missions in the Middle East and China. Col. Leu flew dozens of missions and was among the first to fly in helicopter squadrons after World War II, leading missions in both Korea and Vietnam. In 1963, he led a mission to rescue downed US Army aviators. As a result of Col. Leu’s heroic service, he was decorated repeatedly by the Marine Corps. In a lasting tribute to his contributions to our Country, a helicopter flown by him in Korea is currently on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Annex at Dulles Airport.

Most of Col. Leu’s fellow Marines referred to him simply as “Chief.” After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1970, he and his wife Katherine settled in Falmouth, Virginia with their family. In his retirement, Col. Leu continued his love of photography and history, having a keen eye and appreciation for both. In Falmouth, he served as a photographer for the National Registry of Historical Places and became president of the Falmouth historical society.

In the years that followed Katherine’s passing, Col. Leu found love and joy when he married Mia. Col. Leu and Mia were married for 22 years. The two traveled extensively, attending military reunions. They also shared their love of music and the outdoors, regularly enjoying a picnic lunch in the woods, while bird watching on the tailgate of Col Leu’s truck. Summer vacations at the beach in the company of his daughters and their families became annual events, which were enriched by time spent with Col. Leu’s beloved grandchildren, Steven Hubble and Carrie Ellis Phillips. Col. Leu and Mia spent their 22 years together in Falmouth, often visiting Quantico and other military friends and family there.

Col. Leu was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Gertrude, Dorothy and Bernice, and wife, Katherine. He is survived by his wife, Mia Leu, daughters, Leuanne Leu Ellis, Rhonda Leu Hubble Givens, and Sandra Agnes Leu, his grandchildren, Steven Leu Hubble and Carrie Ellis Phillips and her husband Jeff Phillips, great granddaughter, Emma Katherine Phillips, brother-in-law, William N. Skinner, sister-in-law, Jean Skinner and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service celebrating Col. Leu’s life will be held at the Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, Virginia on January 23rd at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Col. Leu’s honor can be made to the American Heart Association or the Mary Washington Preservation.

Condolences may be sent to mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com