LeRoy J. Arens

LeRoy J. Arens, age 84 of Fordyce, Nebraska died on Monday, June 29, 2026 at Avera Hospice House in Yankton, SD.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family (Sts. Peter & Paul) Catholic Church in Bow Valley, Nebraska with the Rev. Eliot Schwer officiating. Burial will be at the parish cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington, Nebraska.

Pallbearers will be Nathan Schulte, Austin Arens, Gene Guenther, Jesse Koch, Gerard Arens, and Larry Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers will Leroy’s grandchildren and great grandchildren.

LeRoy Joseph was born on March 19, 1942 on the home place three miles east of Fordyce, Nebraska to Rudolph E. and Ella (Kruse) Arens. LeRoy attended the 1st-8th grades at Brookside District 108 on the top of the hill. He then attended the 9th and 10th grade at the Fordyce High school. LeRoy then went to Holy Trinity for the 11th grade for three days. LeRoy married Almeda Mary Guenther on June 16, 1964 in Fordyce.

LeRoy farmed his entire life and then worked for the Wynot Farm Store for three years. He worked for Ed Arens @ Arens Heating and Cooling for 10 years and finished his employment at Hesse International in Crofton and for Jesse Koch.

LeRoy was a member of Holy Family (Sts. Peter & Paul) Catholic Church in Bow Valley. He had a passion for Corvette’s and owned several over the years. He liked to show his car at the Black Hills Corvette Classic.

He is survived by his two children – Michelle (Michael) Schulte of Yankton, SD, Doug (Jerrie) Arens of Hartington; four grandchildren Wendy (Justin) Jensen, and Nathan Schulte, Kelsey (Adam) Backer, and Austin Arens; great grandchildren Ella, Connor, Hannah, Clara and Carter Jensen, Cooper, Ava, and Brooks Backer.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Ella Arens; his wife Almeda on October 19, 2015 at the age of 70 years; and great grandson Craig Schulte.