LeRoy Garrels

Friend, NE/Weslaco, TX, LeRoy Garrels, 81, passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 19th, 2017 at McAllen Heart Hospital. He was born in Bruning, Nebraska to Melvin and Dorothy Garrels. He had a younger brother, Dennis. LeRoy had a natural musical talent as a young boy and he embraced this talent and it became a lifelong hobby. He played the saxophone in a professional dance band starting in the 8th grade and throughout his college years. LeRoy was quite an athlete as well. He played Junior Legion Baseball and later played for the University of Nebraska as a pitcher. He also joined the Nebraska National Guard. After he graduated, LeRoy would become a teacher at Milligan, Davenport, Clay Center and Friend High Schools, continuing to embrace his God given talent as a music teacher. It was during this time that he met his future bride, Connie. LeRoy and Connie were married on August 21, 1966 and would enjoy a beautiful marriage and life together. They were blessed with two children, Jayson and Laura. He also found time in between teaching and raising his family, to go back to school and pursue his Masters Degree. LeRoy worked for the Friend School District nearly his entire career, mostly in administration. LeRoy and Connie began spending their winters in Weslaco twenty years ago living at Leisure World. They also were able to travel to many places during retirement, traveling to Budapest and Viena taking a river cruise through the Danube recently. LeRoy's hobbies included traveling, fishing, golf hunting and music. He was a tried and true "Cornhusker", always loyal to his college team. LeRoy is preceeded in death by his parents, his nephew, Russel and his nieces Rebecca and Jennifer. He is survived by his loving wife of fifty years, his son, Jayson Garrels and wife, Jacquelyn, of Grand Prairie, Texas, his daughter, Laura Pinkall and husband Jason, of Dallas, Texas, granddaughters, Sophia and Siena Garrels, Ella Pinkall, and grandson, Noah Pinkall. Visitation will be held on Monday, from 3-6pm at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco, TX. Visitation will be at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home in Friend, NE on Friday, February 24th with family present from 5pm-7pm. Services will be held Saturday, February 25th at Friend United Methodist Church at 10am with interment following at Bruning Public Cemetery in Bruning, Nebraska. Funeral arrangements are under the care of McCaleb Funeral Home of Weslaco.