Fond du Lac (WI) Reporter, Aug. 1, 2001. Leander J. Abler, 83, of Mt. Calvary, died at the Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac on Tues., July 31, 2001, after a lingering illness. He was born Feb. 2, 1918, in Mt. Calvary, a son of the late John and Johanna Rieder Abler. He attended Holy Cross Grade School in Mt. Calvary. He was married to the former Alfreda Michels on Aug. 19, 1941, at St. Claudius Church in St. Cloud. After their marriage, the couple farmed on the Abler homestead in rural Mt. Calvary for 39 years before retiring and moving to the village of Mt. Calvary. His wife preceded him in death in 1998. Leander was a member of Holy Cross Church and a former member of the Holy Name Society of the church. He sang in the church choir, was a former treasurer for the Town of Marshfield, former president of the Mt. Calvary Volunteer Fire Department, a volunteer at the Villa Loretta nursing home for over 35 years, a member of the Mt. Calvary Athletic Club, and a member of the Knights of Columbus of Fond du Lac. He enjoyed bowling, golfing and the Green Bay Packers. He is survived by one son, Michael (Joan) of Mt. Calvary, four daughters, Kay (Bill) Seibel and Sandra (Ken) Merten, all of Mt. Calvary, Susan (Joe) Stephany of Fond du Lac and Mary Joan (Mark) Winkler of St. Joe; 16 grandchildren, Loree, Jody, Gina, Tracy, Jeff, Jamie, Gregg, Jennifer, Jill, Tim, Jason, Julie, Matt, Nick, Katelynn and Elizabeth; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Hilda Shepro and Joan Christ, both of Fond du Lac; one brother-in-law, Harold Huberty; and two sisters-in-law, Florence Michels and Marie (Ervin) Stephany. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Edwin, Gilbert, Clem and Gregor; one sister, Lorraine Huberty; one granddaughter; and one great-granddaughter. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at Huss Funeral Home, St. Cloud, and at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Church in Mt. Calvary with the Rev. Peter Kutch, pastor and Fr. Bernie Sippel, a nephew, officiating. Entombment will be at Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Fond du Lac. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 3 p.m. Thursday until the time of the services. A special thank you to the staff and volunteers at the Hospice Home of Hope. Huss Funeral Home in St. Cloud is serving the family.