Leonard Luke Graykowski

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Doris Pontiff Graykowski; daughter Karyn G. Nelson and her husband Robert E. Nelson; son Leonard Graykowski and his wife Linda; son William Graykowski and his wife Michele; and grandchildren Maj. Robert J. Nelson and wife Kathy, Matthew W. Nelson and wife Cynthia, Leonard Paul Graykowski and wife Katie, Mark A. Nelson and wife Leslee, Nicole Graykowski and Ryan Graykowski; plus two Great Grandsons and one Great Granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

Leonard was a devoted Catholic and was a tireless and able servant of the Lord in his many activities with St. Marks Catholic Church in San Antonio and St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Houma, La. plus his life long services to the St. Vincent De Paul Society with his work helping the less advantaged of our world.

In the early 1940's Leonard was a Catholic seminary student prior to entering the U. S. Army in the beginning months of WWII. He served at several posts in Texas and Louisiana with the Army Combat Engineers before being deployed to Europe in late 1944 and then to the Philippines in July 1945 earning the Bronze Star in the European Campaign.

He married Doris Pontiff in Franklin, La. on March 11, 1944. After the war he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a specialty in Accounting from Southwest Louisiana University in Lafayette, La. in 1950. He spent most of his professional career with the Internal Revenue Service in Houma, La. in various levels of responsibility including Administrator of the Houma office plus he had brief assignments in the New Orleans, La. and Austin, Tx. IRS offices.

He brought delight to all that knew him and not a soul who met him was ever a stranger.

Memorials may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Society.

SAFELY HOME

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! but Jesus' love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus'arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still:

Try to look beyond earth's shadows,

Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth-

You shall rest in Jesus'land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!