Funeral services for Leo Henry Machmuller Sr. will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Branson, Missouri at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2013. Visitation will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Missouri on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from 5 PM to 7 PM. The Knights of Columbus will pray the Rosary at 7 PM. Leo will be interred at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield Missouri at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home of Branson.
Leo Henry Machmuller Sr, age 92, passed away April 19, 2013 in his home after a short illness. He was surrounded by his loving family at his death.
Leo was born in Emmett, Nebraska on April 12, 1921 to Henry G. Machmuller and Mathilda Ramold Machmuller. His family moved soon thereafter to Humphrey, Nebraska where he attended school at St Francis grade school and high school. Leo’s father, a barber was known for giving all active service men free haircuts. Leo served in the army during World War II. . Due to Leo’s height, he was 6’6″, serving in the field was not an option for him. Leo’s service was spent helping train soldiers during basic training and he also spent time as an MP and a police guard of equipment in Iran.
Leo met the woman of his dreams under the mistletoe and they were married on Pearl Harbor Day 1944 in Georgia. They were married 68 years.
After the war, Leo and his wife lived most of their lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Leo started working as a stocker at the Nebraska Furniture Mart. He later was part owner of Swanson Manor furniture store in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Leo and Eileen moved to Grand Island, Nebraska in 1968 and Leo retired from McKee Enterprises Flooring Company in 1984. For his retirement project, he and Eileen built, owned and operated Amber Light Motor Inn in Branson, Missouri. He and Eileen retired completely when they sold their motel. Leo and Eileen have shared the remainder of their lives overlooking the 6th green at Point Royale in Branson, Missouri where they golfed daily until their mid 80’s.
Leo spent his life actively serving his church from the time he was a small boy as an alter server to choir and eucharistic minister at his parish in Grand Island to eucharistic minister and hospital ministry at his parish in Branson, Missouri. Leo was very active in the Knights of Columbus. He was also very active in the Lions. He holds Melvin Jones Fellow award for humanitarian services as well as the Lifetime Membership award from the Lions.
Leo is survived by his wife, Eileen Shannon Machmuller, two sons Leo (Lee) Henry Machmuller Jr and wife Kathy of Grand Island, Nebraska and Richard Allen Machmuller and wife Celeste of Nixa, Missouri and one daughter Cheryl Ann Coffelt of Kirbyville, Missouri. Leo has seven grandchildren. Matthew Machmuller,Jacob Coffelt, Megan Boeck, Jessica Silvey, Julie Coffelt, Michael Machmuller and Joel Coffelt. He also has five great grandchildren Sasha Machmuller, Lincoln Silvey, Maxon Machmuller, Logan Silvey and Gavin Boeck. He is also survived by one brother Dave Machmuller of Broomfield, Colorado and one sister, Mary Lou Melcher of Lindsey, Nebraska. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Gene Machmuller, a sister Evelyn Juszyk, a sister Geraldine Baumgart Batesman.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Leo’s name to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 203 Vaughn Rd, Branson, MO 65616.