Msg (Ret.) Gunther Leonhardt

MSG Ret. Gunther Leonhardt, 87, of Columbus, GA passed away Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at his residence in Columbus, GA.  A funeral service  will be held at Vance-Brooks Funeral Home on Friday, February 19, 2016 beginning at 12:00 Noon EST.  The interment will conclude the service at Fort Mitchell Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. EST with full military honors.  The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 Noon at the funeral home.  .  

MSG Ret. Gunther Leonhardt was born June 2, 1928 in Solingen, Germany to the late Emil Franz Gunther and Maria Butwitt Leonhardt.  Solingen was a city known world-wide for their silverware, knives, swords and daggers.  He immigrated to New York in 1951 and stayed there with his Aunt.  He joined the United States Army in April, 1952.  He retired from the army in October, 1973 as an E-8 after 22 years of Honorable Service.   He served four tours in Germany during the military threat from the Soviet Union.  He was in the following Units:  HV Mortar Co., 12 Inf. Reg 4th Inf. Div; 2n BN 5 Inf. Reg. 8th Inf. Div. ; 2nd BN 54 Inf. Reg 4th Arm. Div.; and 2nd BN 13 Inf. Reg 8th Inf. Div.  He also served two One year tours in Vietam in Units:  2nd BN 28th Inf Reg 1st Inf. Div and 1st BN 22nd Inf. Reg 4th Inf. Div.  He was stationed in the following State Sites:  Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Riley, Kansas, and Fort Benning, Georgia.  He served all 22 years in Infantry units stating as Private and ending as Master Sergeant.  He received the following awards:  Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, 2 LA Army Commandation Medals, several Good Conduct Medals, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, 3 Medals awarded by the Republic of Vietnam and Drill Sergeant Badge.  After retirement from military service he worked 18 years for Civil Service at the Craft Shop in Fort Benning.       

Other than his parents, he is predeceased by his loving wife of 56 years, Rosina Franziska Merkle.

Survivors include:  daughters, Marian Steel (Ted) of Dayton, OH and Doris Mendheim (Keith) of St Petersburg, FL; a son, Armin Leonhardt (Erica) of Powell, OH; eleven grandchildren:  Bradley Steel, Justin Steel, Hannah Mendeim (James), Angelica Henwood (Tyler), Sherrie Miles (Lee), Kellie Mendheim, Blake Leonhardt, Hayden Leonhardt, Samantha Leonhardt, Ansley Leonhardt and Alexandra Tiller; and one great grandchild:  Madison Rae Veasey.

In lieu of flowers those so desiring may make a donation honoring MSG Ret Gunther Leonhardt  to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or 1-800-ACS-2345.

Those so desiring to extend condolences may visit www.vancebrooksfuneralhome.net.