Leo Frederick Krantz

MADISON-Leo F. Krantz, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. He was born May 17, 1922, the son of John and Mariann (Palma) Krantz and raised on the family farm in Pine Bluff. He left the farm in his teens to attend school in Madison to learn the trade of automobile mechanics. Leo met the love of his life Valeria Laufenberg at a dance in Springfield Corners where she sought him out and said “let’s dance this one”. He was drafted into the U. S. Army serving in Europe during World War II. Before leaving for Europe he was stationed in El Paso, Texas. Valeria took the bus from Madison to be with him and she worked at the local drug store. They rented an upstairs porch in someone’s home and set up house. They were married there, happily walking together one mile in the heat to the courthouse. Upon his return home, they had another marriage ceremony in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pine Bluff. They lived with a family member until they could afford their lifelong home on the West side of Madison spending their remaining days together until each passing. Leo had started his own business “Madison Armature and Parts” on Regent Street and was successful for many years. As automobiles became more electronic, he adjusted and shifted his occupation to that of a traveling salesman selling a product of his own invention “Bug-Ease” and later a penetrating oil product. During this time and after retirement, Leo and Val were avid ballroom and square dancers, seeking out local dance halls as often as they could. Leo also loved the German card game Solo. He would play in Pine Bluff, Cross Plains and at the Riley Tavern. It was not uncommon to see him try to climb on the card table when he had a “Dewey” in his hand. Leo was preceded in death by his loving wife Valeria on June 2, 2010. Survivors include his daughters, Janet (Todd) Hayes of Madison, Sharon (John) Gerl of McFarland and Kathy (Dr. Bill) Clancy of Madison; four grandchildren, Tamara (Jason) Markgraf of Madison, Eric (Molly) Hayes of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Sarah (Eric) Morcoe of Menasha and Zachary Gerl of Madison and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, Bertrand, Matthew, Tony, Joseph, John and in infancy, Francis and Alfred; seven sisters, Marie Grosse, Margaret Harms-Beck, Betty Buechner-Haack, Ann Esser, Agnes Krantz, Sister Rita Krantz, SSSF and Sister Genevieve Krantz, SSSF. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. MARY OF PINE BLUFF CATHOLIC CHURCH, 3673 County Trunk P, Cross Plains at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 23, 2013. Visitation will be held on at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL & CREMATION CRE, 7435 University Ave, Middleton from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, November 22, 2013 and also on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. For online condolences, please visit www.gundersonfh.com. The family would like to thank Jolanta Marzec and John Kruszyna for their kind and compassionate care of Leo during his last years and days of his life, which made all the difference to him and his family. Also, thank you to Agrace Hospice for their support to Leo and his family. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Ave 608-831-6761 www.gundersonfh.com