LEONARD THALER

Funeral services for Leonard “Smiley” Thaler, 86, of Wagner were Tuesday, December 10 at the United Methodist Church in Wagner. Burial was in the ZCBJ Cemetery, rural Wagner, with Military Honors. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Robert Thaler was born February 23, 1933 at Wagner, the eldest son of Frank Jr. and Mabel (Uecker) Thaler. He died Thursday, December 5, 2019 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner.

Leonard attended country school through the eighth grade northeast of Wagner and graduated from Wagner High School in 1951. He served in the US Army from 1951 through 1953. He was stationed in Germany and was a Counter Fire Controller.

Leonard married Connie Reynolds in Wagner on August 30, 1955. To this union five children were born. Leonard farmed three miles west of Wagner for most of his life. He married Alma Petersen in Wagner on June 29, 1985.

Leonard was an avid hunter and fisherman. He really did know all the best fishing spots around the Ft. Randall Dam, up and down the Missouri River. Leonard spent many days at the river waterskiing with his family. Much of his spare time was spent hunting with his many friends. Leonard enjoyed playing cards, especially Poker. He was in a bowling league for many years.

Leonard was a member of the United Methodist Church, the VFW and the Wagner Jaycees.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Alma of Wagner; five children: Ruby (Romaine) Rezac of Sioux Falls, Terry (Renie) Thaler of Blackhawk, Sandy (Dan) Honomichl of Wagner, Linda Keyes of Phoenix, AZ and Janet (Joe) Hunt of Tonopah, NV; four step children: Avis (John) Miles of Circle, MT, Arliss (David) Kost of Lesterville, Rhonda (Jeffery) Uecker of Ankeny, IA and Rachel (Paul) Conley of Sioux City, IA; 14 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; three sisters: Frances (Lowell) Ramsdell of Winlock, WA, Elaine (Tom) Stone of Chamberlain and Jean Heida of Mitchell; two sisters-in-law: Dorothy (Thaler) Neugard of Sioux Falls and Valeria Merkwan of Wagner; brother-in-law Marty (Carolyn) Castle of Blaine, MN and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leonard waspreceded in death by his parents, brother Leon Thaler; and two brothers-in-law: Norman and Marlyn Kelly.