Leo Minzenmayer

Leo William Minzenmayer went peacefully to his heavenly home on Monday, October 13, 2025, with his wife and daughter by his side. Leo was born on March 29, 1936, to Adolph and Natalia (Ahrens) Minzenmayer. He was born at home, and the silo still stands on his birthplace South of Winters. He grew up on Valley Creek, the oldest of five children.
He was christened Leo William Anton Minzenmayer at St. John's Lutheran Church as an infant, and was a lifelong member, which was very important to him.
Leo attended Norton Public Schools, graduating in 1954. He was active in both 4-H and FFA, and enjoyed participating in stock shows. He was proud to have played six-man football for the Norton Eagles, which began a lifelong love for the game. Leo was a huge football fanatic. He followed the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Tech, and the Kansas City Chiefs faithfully, but would honestly watch any and every game he could.
He attended Texas Tech University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Husbandry. While at Tech, he worked as a milking boy, and lived in the Historical Texas Tech Dairy Barn for a while. He was also a member of the Block & Bridle Club. After college, Leo served in the National Guard Reserves.
He married the love of his life, Shirley Moreland, on July 13, 1968. They were blessed to share 57 years and three months together, and have one daughter, Susan Leigh Minzenmayer.
Leo's list of priorities could be described as the 5 F's: Faith, Family, Friends, Farming, & Football.
Leo is what some might call a "Man's man," enjoying nothing more than talking farming and football with the fellas. He loved to visit with the "Coffee Shop Crew" every afternoon. Leo never met a stranger, and loved to visit with family and friends. He would always seek to "talk with the locals" whenever he went anywhere.
Leo's memory was unmatched and well-known. If you wanted to know the details of anything that happened between the 1940's when he was growing up, and now, Leo was the man to ask.
Leo was a farmer for many years, growing cotton, wheat, and maize, and raising cattle. Farming was in his blood. He loved to work the land, and even after he was no longer farming, he loved to talk farming with anyone who would listen.
Later in his farming years, Leo took on a side job driving a propane truck. He met and befriended many loyal customers through the years, and had some adventures doing late-night deliveries.
When most people would be thinking about retirement, Leo began a new career at the age of 61. He became a correctional officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. There, he gained life-long friends within his work family. He was referred to as "Pops" by the inmates, both because he was older, and because of the way that he treated them with dignity and respect.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents Adolph and Natalia; brother Roy Minzenmayer; brothers-in-law: David Heinritz, Arthur Sander, Dennis Langlais, Wayne Moreland and Mike Watson, and a host of friends.
Survivors include wife Shirley, his daughter Susan, sisters: Janet Sander, Nancy Langlais and Myra Sorrells & husband David. He is also survived by sisters- in-law: Linda Watson, Peggy Moreland, and Rickye Moreland. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, and cousins who he loved very much.
Survived by special friends & blessings Joyce Knight and Joe Guajardo, Raul & Raquel Mata, and special adopted grandson, Joel Mata, a light in our lives.
Leo was a gentle man who loved his family most of all. He would do anything for us, and always supported our dreams. In recent years, we discovered that he liked going to concerts, and we made many fun memories attending concerts from The Beach Boys, to Crystal Gayle, to Aaron Watson.
Services are under the direction of Winters Funeral Home. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, October 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Winters Funeral Home. The service will be held on Saturday, October 18, at 2:00 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Winters, with Pastor Kris Rebentisch officiating.
Pallbearers will be nephews: Bobby Watson, Brett Rose, Jesse Slaughter, Cody Watson, Troy Moreland, Eddie Langlais, Justin Sorrells, and Greg Sorrells.
Honorary Pallbearers are Otto Gottschalk and Carl Gottschalk, lifelong friends since childhood.
Also serving as honorary pallbearers are Steve Bradshaw, who was like a brother, and the rest of the TDCJ crew. Jerry Moore and the rest of the Coffee Shop Crew share this honor as well.
Memorials may be made to the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Winters Public Library, or a favorite charity.