Leo Andrew Tokarczyk age 86, of Springfield Missouri, passed away February 22, 2014. He was born November 2, 1927 on a farm in Dakota County Nebraska, one of six children. His father raised produce for Polish immigrants who settled in Sioux City, Iowa. Within a few years his father moved the family to Sioux City and opened a family grocery store, where Leo worked throughout his childhood. He was a pitcher on local softball teams, an excellent dancer, and an avid bowler. After graduating high school, he entered the Navy. Upon honorable discharge, he attended Morningside College in Sioux City on the GI Bill, graduating in business. After marrying Norma Caldwell, they had 4 children. He took great pride in his children and loved them with all his heart. The children feel the same and hope to live up to his example. For over forty years, Leo worked in banking equipment sales servicing customers in the Midwest. Upon retiring, his service manager said "he was the best salesman he ever had." He always took pride in a job well done. He found great comfort in his Catholic faith and was a member of Saint Agnes Parish in Springfield, Missouri for over 60 years. Parishioners knew him as a kind and generous person who could make children giggle and adults wonder what he would do next. He was well known for his sense of humor. He loved boating on Table Rock Lake, smoking Polish sausage in his backyard smokehouse and bowling in the Friday night major handicap league at Sherm Loller Lanes. Leo is survived by his sister, Sr. Judith Tokarczyk; son, Leo Allen and wife Anita; daughter, Sherre and husband Tom; brother-in-law George; six nieces; five nephews; three grandchildren, Christina and husband Joe, Robert and wife Erica and Leah; and two great-grandchildren, Makayla and Ian. Visitation will be Thursday, February 27 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm with prayer service at 7:30pm at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. His funeral mass will be Friday, February 28 at 10am at Saint Agnes Cathedral, with burial at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at 1:00 pm.
