Leroy Bruce Muffler

LeRoy Bruce Muffler, 90, of Serena, Illinois, passed away Tuesday morning, June 4, 2013, at his lifelong home surrounded by his family. Funeral Service for LeRoy will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at Serena United Methodist Church with Rev. Cynthia Zolk officiating. Visitation will be at Ottawa Funeral Home from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7, with Masonic Services at 6:00 p.m., and one hour prior to services on Saturday at Serena United Methodist Church. Burial will be in West Serena Cemetery with Military Services. LeRoy was born June 2, 1923, in Serena, Illinois, to George and Gertrude (May) Muffler. He married Diane Mae Morsch on June 5, 1943. She passed away on May 12, 2003. LeRoy was a member of the Serena United Methodist Church, lifetime member of the American Legion and V.F.W., the Masonic Temple in Marseilles, the Moline Consitery (32nd Masonry), Ottawa Moose, Elks, and Peoria Shrine and Farm Bureau. He attended Serena Schools and was a graduate of Serena High School in 1942. LeRoy enjoyed organizing the annual class reunions. He began classes at the University of Illinois, hoping to become an attorney. Then Uncle Sam sent him a letter requesting he serve his country. He proudly served as a member of the U.S. Navy during World War II upon PT 513 with Squadron 35. He arrived in Normandy the day after the Normandy invasion. LeRoy served in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres. LeRoy lived his entire life in Serena farming the family farm. He also worked off the farm driving a bus for Serena School, working at Libby Owens Ford in Ottawa, the Sheridan Boys Correctional Center, and retired in 1988 from All-Steel in Aurora after 25 years. He stopped working the fields in 2005. To the present day, he ran the daily operations of the farm. LeRoy was an avid White Sox fan and had the game on every time they played. He is survived by two sons, Brent (Lucille) Muffler and Bruce (Annette) Muffler of Serena; one daughter, Julie Muffler of Ottawa; his grandchildren, Paul (Tiffany) Muffler, Tricia Muffler, Eric (Georgia) Muffler, Thaddeus (Heidi Jackson) Muffler, Keith (Erin Tuntland) Muffler, Tiffany (Robert) Carlson, Leslie (Bret) Callison, Patrick (Erika) Korth, Jason Dougherty, Benjamin Boldt, and Kevin Boldt; his great grandchildren, McKenna and Hunter Muffler, Brooklynn Staton, Nolan and Brody Muffler, Ty and Libby Muffler, Nick Carlson, Leo, Logan, Lucas, and Lauren Callison, Avery Kinnamon, Axton Korth, and Jakob Woods; also surviving is his youngest sister, Barbara (Gene) Smith of California; his brother in-law, Rev. James (Nancy) Morsch of Florida; and his caregivers, April Bailey and Barb Anderson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane; a daughter, Meta Korth; sisters, Gladys Eisert, Sarah Muffler, and Francis Muffler; brothers, Forrest Muffler, Bill Muffler, and Fritz Muffler; and a life long friend, George Eddie Fosse. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Memorials may be directed to Heart to Heart or the Serena United Methodist Church.