Leroy W. Depies

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Schramka-Densow Funeral Home - Thiensville

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Thiensville, Wisconsin

Leroy Depies Obituary

Name: Visitation for Leroy W. Depies
Location: Lumen Christi Parish

Depies, Leroy W. Of Minocqua formerly of Thiensville, WI. Passed away unexpectedly on Sat., Apr. 11, 2015 at the age of 86. Beloved husband for 60 years to June (nee Blaubach). Proud father of Cindy (Ken) Buttitta, Jeff (Terry), Bob (Diane), Mike (Debbie), Bill (Heather), Paul (Kim), Kathy (Mark) Dalton, Jim and Sue (Gregg) Denman. Proud Grandpa of 28 grandchildren and 5 ½ great grandchildren. Dear brother of Eileen Bolz and Charlotte Bartlein. Fond brother-in-law of Carol Depies, Marge Blaubach, Don (Madie) Blaubach, Audrey Blaubach and Earl (Diane) Blaubach. Preceded in death by his parents; Alfred and Tillie (nee Becker), siblings; Kenneth, twin Elroy and Elaine Bergin. Memorial Mass 1:00 PM on Sat., Apr. 18 at Lumen Christi Parish, 138 W. Buntrock Ave, Thiensville, WI 53092. Military Honors to follow. The family will greet relatives and friends on Sat. at the church from 11:00 AM until time of Mass and at a reception to be held afterwards. In 2001 the first responders from the Thiensville Fire Dept. Inc. saved Leroy's life. The family is eternally grateful for the 14 years he was able to continue to enjoy his relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Thiensville Fire Dept. Inc., would be greatly appreciated.

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Published by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Apr. 15, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Leroy Depies

Sponsored by Schramka-Densow Funeral Home - Thiensville.

3 Entries

April 20, 2015

June and Family, I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Leroy. Know you are all in my thoughts and prayers at this time. May the many beautiful memories ease the pain in your hearts. Love, Cousin Mary Ann Blaubach

April 15, 2015

Leroy Depies
April 15, 2015 at 11:48am
I write not knowing what else to do. I write knowing the futility of it. No description can do this man justice. No set of sentences can express the experience of being in his presence. No list of characteristics, no memory fondly recalled, no image, no soundbite, nothing will demonstrate the recognition and gratitude deserved by Leroy Depies. A man may work hard, may love his wife and his children with everything he has and we would not wish to speak a bad word of such a man. Nor should we, for those are among the finest attributes that may be cultivated in man, and one who embodies this will always be worthy of man's respect. Leroy was this, to be sure, as truly as any have been, but he was far more. Some of this I will try to explain, without success, and the rest will be left to those who knew him best. They understand what treasure they hold inside, what he left in their hearts, in their minds. He loved his family with an unmatched love. He loved every child, every grandchild. He didn't always express it in the same manner, but there was never any doubt when you looked into his eyes. This man cared about you.

There have been many loving men in history, many charismatic characters, but I sincerely doubt that there ever before was a man with a personality quite like that of my grandfather. He did what few have ever been able to do. He kept the child inside alive as long as he was. This is no small feat. It belongs near the top of his lengthy list of accomplishments. He never lost the excitement or laughter of adolescence. Indeed it seemed a laugh was ever lingering upon his heart waiting for the proper moment to escape and energize the entirety of the environment. It didn't matter if you were a friend, a relative, or a waitress, his wit knew no limits, always ready to be released, to inspire a laugh where there wasn't one before, to bring about something that felt better in the hearts of those about him. Those who knew him, knew a better life because of him. They laughed more. They smiled more.

If you knew him well, if he was your father, or grandfather, or a dear friend, then you also know that you are a better person because of him. If you did not learn anything about kindness, generosity, forgiveness, or resilience from this man then you did not hear him. Mere days before he left this life I was contemplating a quote by Mark Twain, a statement that read, "At our best and stateliest we are not suns, as we pretended, and teach, and believe, but only candles; and any bummer can blow us out." I believe there to be much truth in the words of Twain. Often men and women have found themselves disheartened, drained of motivation, of will by the smallest of disappointments. This, of course is no small disappointment, and there was more than enough gust in the news to extinguish every last candle. But there are exceptions. And that I believe to have been the point, to be an exception, to not be the candle that flickers out in the breeze, but to be the shining sun bringing light to all the trees, all the seas, the people now, and the ones that will be. Leroy was no candle. This man was a sun. And that's what he inspired in the men and women who were lucky enough to know him. They all shined a little brighter for his light. Now it is up to us to keep that light visible, to keep it bright.