LAUREL — Leon May, 79, Laurel, died March 14, 2025, at Faith Regional Hospital, Norfolk, after a long battle with Parkinson’s.

Mass of Christian Burial will be March 19 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Laurel, with the Rev. Jerry Connealy officiating.

Burial will be at the Laurel cemetery. Pallbearers will be Leon’s nephews, Kevin May, Duane Nemec, Ryan Hintz, Michael Jorgensen, Jamie Nemec and James Vath.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dwayne Freeman, Mark Lute, Roger James, Steve Thompson, Gregg James and Vel Morten.

Visitation and a vigil service were Tuesday, at church, and will continue Wednesday one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.

Arnold Leo “Leon” was born Oct. 19, 1945, in Wayne, to Arnold E. and Elsie Cecilia (Noelle) May. Leon attended school in Laurel, Hartington and Randolph, graduating from Saint Frances High School in 1965. Following graduation, he worked as a farm hand for Ernie Fork for several years. In 1970, he purchased a concrete plant from Sellintines of West Point. After much work and help from friends and family, he opened Laurel Ready Mix. He ran his business, selling concrete, slag, gravel and rock, until selling the business in 1998. Following the sale, he kept busy hauling scrap metal for his brother, Marv.

Despite the many challenges of living with Parkinson’s, with the help of many good friends and family, he was able to stay on his acreage west of Laurel until 2022 when he moved to Kinship Pointe in Wayne. There he received excellent care from their staff.

He was a life member of St. Mary’s in Laurel. He had a lifetime of service to his church and faith. First as an altar boy, and in 1982 he became St. Mary’s first extraordinary minister of the Eucharist along with being one of their first lectors. He also served on the rural North Central deanery pastoral, the archdiocesan pastoral executive board, was a parish council member and worked with the Nebraska Right to Life. He organized parishioners to pray at abortion clinics and helped with youth activities. Leon was a CCD teacher for many years. He was also a big baseball fan especially the Kansas City Royals.

Leon is survived by two sisters, Elaine Jorgensen, Norfolk, and Mary Nemec, Norfolk; two brothers, Gerald (Nancy) May, Fremont, and Marv (Tammy) May, Dixon; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Deanna; and nephew, Corey Jorgensen.