Leo Earl Bantam

Celebration of Life Services for Leo E. Bantam will be held at the Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, Nebraska on Monday, July 6, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Paul Ferrarone officiating. Interment will be held in the Orleans Cemetery at Orleans, Nebraska following the services.

Leo Earl Bantam, 81 years of age, of Alma, passed away at his home on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.  Leo, the second of two sons was born to Thornton D. and Margery Alice (Dake) Bantam on March 31, 1934 on a farm south of Orleans. He received his primary education at the District #59 school south of Orleans through the 8th grade and then at Orleans High School, where he graduated with the class of 1951.

In his early years, Leo enjoyed hunting, farming, 4-H, and helping his Dad with the crops and livestock.  On the farm, work was challenging, but rewarding.

On November 7, 1955, Leo was united in marriage to Shirley Jean (Meyer) Bantam and to this union four children were born:  Jeffrey D., Kirk Alan, Margery Jane and Michael Earl.  The family resided on a farm three miles south of Orleans, where Leo and sons worked together farming and raising livestock.

Leo was involved with the Jaycee's of Orleans, was a school board member at Orleans High School and was a 4-H leader.  Leo's passion for more than 60 years was with all things involving agriculture.   He was most at home in the operator's chair of a combine, tractor or truck.   He and Shirley raised their family on the farm, enjoyed their experiences together, endured the challenging times of the 80's and successfully passed on the value of family to their kids.

After the passing of his wife, Shirley in August of 1998, Leo remarried.  He and Judith Kay "Judy" (Bash) Wessels were married on December 31, 2004 in Panama, Nebraska.

After retiring from farming, Leo spent 10 years working as a fertilizer truck driver for Cargill, helping Dewey Knuth and Brad Barwick with harvest activities and working on John and Joel Wessel's Custom Harvesting crew.   Although it was only for four years and limited by his health, Leo's time working with the Wessel's harvesting crew and his great friend John, was one of the most enjoyable experiences of his later life.  He truly loved his time spent on the harvest crew.

In his post-ag years, Leo loved to fish and loved taking care of his dog, Pepper.  You could tell his love of fishing by the many, many fishing poles he kept.  "You can never have too much fishing equipment" he always said.  Leo also loved spending time with family during Holidays and enjoying the successes of all of his grandchildren.   He would not hesitate to mention the grandchildren and how proud he was of their accomplishments.

Besides his parents, Leo was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley; his second wife, Judy; his son, Jeffrey D.; and his only daughter, Margery Jane; his brother, Noble Bantam and his wife, Eldrid; and brother-in-law, William "Bill" Meyer.

He leaves to mourn his passing; his two sons:  Kirk Bantam of Holdrege, Nebraska and Mike Bantam and his wife, Lorri of Alma; four step-children:  Jeff Wessels of Arapahoe, Nebraska, Julie Grove and husband, Marshall of Yakima, Washington, Joel Wessels and wife, Pam of Alma, and Jill Platt and husband, James of Richardson, Texas; four grandchildren:  Derek Jeffrey Bantam and wife, Jennifer of Curtis, Nebraska, Nicole Kay Juricek and husband, Jesse of Crete, Nebraska, Jeffrey Michael Bantam of Atlanta, Georgia and Jarrod Matthew Bantam of Alma; nine step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren:  Kevin and Tyler Bantam and Grant Juricek; sister-in-law, Gladys Meyer of Alma; and a host nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 5, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma.

A memorial has been established in Leo's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.