Leon W. Heidebrecht
Leon W. Heidebrecht, 75, of Port Charlotte, passed away
Friday (Aug. 28, 2009) at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. He was
born June 5, 1934, in Newton, to Alvin and Sarah (nee-Vogt) Heidebrecht. Leon's
father, who was a barber, moved his family to Hutchinson and opened a barber
shop. His school years from elementary through junior college were spent in
Hutchinson. During high school and junior college, Leon participated in drag
racing as a hobby. He won a state championship in drag racing in 1959. He also
was president of a local Hutchinson Drag Racing Club for several years.
After junior college, Leon entered Kansas State University,
where he earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 1957.
While in engineering school, Leon was named to Steel Ring, an engineering
honorary society, during his senior year.
After graduation, he worked for the Kansas State Highway
Department, and in 1960, he was named resident engineer for all state highway
construction work in various counties surrounding Hutchinson. He was one of the
youngest resident engineers ever named in Kansas.
One year before being named resident engineer, Leon married
Kathleen Hasler from Inman. They eventually had three sons, Ray, Neal and
Glenn.
In 1963, Leon returned to Kansas State University to obtain
a master's degree in transportation engineering, which he received in 1964.
Leon then was named a senior Department of Defense transportation engineer for
management, policy and implementation the next 28 years, being responsible for
identifying and integrating defense transportation needs into the National
System of Interstate and Defense Highways, managing the DOD U.S.-wide Defense
Access Road Program, and being responsible for traffic engineering at all Army,
Navy, Air Force and Marine military bases throughout the United States.
In the early 1970s, Leon was the transportation engineering
consultant for the road construction of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense
System in several upper midwestern states. The system later was made inactive
in accordance with an Arms Agreement with the Soviet Union.
In 1976, Leon (although a Republican) was named
transportation engineering point of contact to the Jimmy Carter Inaugural
Committee, especially overseeing the bus, automobile and mass transit
conveyance of hundreds of dignitaries and guests between Capitol Hill (swearing
in) and the White House (for the beginning of the inaugural balls). During the
28 years with the DOD, he earned numerous awards, monetary rewards and
commendations.
Spiritually wise, Leon was raised as a Mennonite, served as
a deacon in the Presbyterian and Chantilly Interdenominational churches in his
former home of Centerville, Va., and most recently attended St. Maximilian
Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, where Leon has lived since 1991.
Leon's wife, Kathleen, died in 1979, leaving Leon and their
three sons. In 1980, Leon married Gail M. Trowbridge, and together they had a
daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1982. Gail had three daughters from a previous
marriage, Lisa, Laurie and Amy.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Gail Mary
Heidebrecht; son, Glenn of Front Royal, Va.; daughters, Elizabeth Heidebrecht
of Tallahassee, Fla., Laura J. Reid of Herndon, Va., Lisa M. Smith of Aldie,
Va., and Amy R. Coffey of Appomattox, Va.; nine grandchildren; one
great-grandchild; and a brother, Glen Heidebrecht.
Leon was preceded in death by his sons, Ray and Neal.
A memorial Mass celebration for Leon will be at 11 a.m.
Sept. 26 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church.
Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to sign the
guest book and extend condolences to the family. Arrangements are by Roberson
Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.
