HARTINGTON — Leroy A. Burbach, 77, Hartington, died peacefully April 10, 2025, at Park View Haven Nursing Home, Coleridge. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held April 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Burial of his cremated remains will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington. The family will receive friends and relatives from 9-10:30 a.m., at the church. A luncheon will follow the burial. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington. Leroy Anthony was born May 14, 1947, to Gerald and Mary (Lammers) Burbach. Leroy graduated from Cedar Catholic High School in 1965. While in high school, he worked at the Neu cheese factory in Hartington. He attended Wayne State College after graduation. Then he worked in Hartington and Yankton at various jobs. While in Yankton, he married Terry Ann Erickson. They moved to Omaha and he worked for Wilson Foods Packing House. While in Omaha, they had a daughter, Heather Ann. After working in Omaha several years, LeRoy returned to Hartington and their marriage dissolved. He moved to Crofton and worked for his brother, Al. Leroy met Sharon Guthmiller and they were married in November 1983. Soon after, they moved to Loveland, Colo., and Leroy worked for the school district.

Leroy was a very avid motorcycle rider and, unfortunately, his love for riding caused him to be involved in a bad accident on July 6, 1991. He and Sharon soon after were divorced. Leroy moved back to Hartington and struggled for some time with his leg but in September 1994 the leg was removed. He then worked for First National Bank of Omaha in Wayne until his retirement.

Leroy struggled for many years with phantom pain where he wasn’t able to do much as the pain from his missing limb was severe. During this time, he lived in his house in Coleridge with his birds which he loved. They became his friends and his favorite was a cockatiel bird named Clyde. Leroy moved to Parkview Haven in Nov. 30, 2022, where he received good care and enjoyed his last days.

Leroy is survived by his daughter, Heather and (Crystal) Zimmerman, Yankton, S.D.; two grandchildren, Cebrina Kruse and Colby Clouse, both of Yankton, S.D.; three brothers, Bob, Vermillion, S.D.; Mike (Kathy) Burbach, Norfolk; Pat (Donna) Burbach, Hartington; one sister, Geralyn (Rod) Flink, Lincoln: and many nieces and nephew.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald, March 22, 2007; Mary, April 1, 2008; his brother, Alfred, Feb. 9, 2015; and his best friend and companion for almost 20 years Clyde, a Cockatiel bird.