Leonard (Tucker) Wayne Unger, 88 of Fairbury, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, Monday, November 23, 2020.  He was born October 14, 1932 to William Noah Unger & Minnie Edna (Walters) Unger at Plymouth, NE.  Leonard attended and graduated from Fairbury High School.

Following graduation, Leonard joined the Navy in January 1952 and was Honorably discharged in January 1956.  During his enlistment he served as a SK3 on the USS Whitehurst. His time in the Navy took him to Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Guam & Japan. Upon his discharge, Leonard returned to the Jansen area where he went to work for Farmers Union Creamery, at which time he met his future wife Marge Lois Brown of Fairbury.  They were united in marriage on May 5, 1957 in Concordia, Kansas. To this union was born 4 daughters, Tammy, Joni, Julie & Terri.

They began their lives together in Colorado Springs before moving to Lincoln where Leonard worked at the Nebraska State Penitentiary as a prison guard, Storz Brewing Company & S&H Green Stamps.  From Lincoln they returned to Colorado where Leonard did his apprenticeship at the Golden Bell Press in Denver.  In the winter of 1971, they returned to their hometown of Fairbury, to raise their family.

Leonard worked at Roodes Packing Co. for 4 years before joining the Teamsters Union where he worked until his retirement in 1997.  His years working for the Teamsters Union were spent in Ankeny, Iowa.

Upon his retirement they moved to Lincoln where they lived for 20 years.  During that time, he spent many years working with his daughter and son-in-law on their family farm, before returning to Fairbury where they resided at Cedarwood Assisted Living. 

Leonard enjoyed bowling, softball, watching his grandchildren play sports and was a BIG Nebraska Football Fan.

Leonard is survived by his wife of 63 years Marge Unger and daughters Tammy Torrey of Aurora, NE, Joni (Bill) Duke of Springfield, MO, Julie Unger (Mary Morgan) of Burlington, VT and Terri (Roger) Stewart of Fairbury, 6 grandchildren Abby Rauwald, Nathan Torrey, Derek Duke, Shannon Chilton, Heath Stewart & Tyler Stewart and 13 great-grand-children along with several nieces and nephews. 

Preceded in death by his parents, sister Marcela Helzer and infant brother John Walters. 

In lieu of flowers memorials will go the family’s choice.

The Family wished to acknowledge a special Thank You to the Cedarwood Staff for their constant love and care, the BCH Hospice, Beatrice for their compassion and care through his passing and to Dr. Shumard for his continued care and sense of humor with our Dad.

Due to the COVID Pandemic Private Family Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 28th at the United Methodist Church in Fairbury. Public Viewing will be Friday at the funeral home from 1 – 8. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  www.gerdesmeyerfh.com