Sgt. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, Ind., died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. Leonhardt, Sergeant Brian 21, of Merrillville, died in Afghanistan on Friday, January 6, 2012, while serving our country. He was a member of the 713th Engineer Company of the Indiana National Guard. He was born on March 6, 1990, the sixth of eight children. Brian graduated from Hammond Baptist High School, where he was a standout basketball player, in May 2008. Brian is survived by his wife, Dianne, of Schererville; his parents, Robert Leonhardt, Jr., of LOFS and Marie Leonhardt of Merrillville; 2 sisters, Theresa (Keith) Stoneback of Crown Point and Jackie of Merrillville; 5 brothers, Chuck (Christy) of Knox, Randy and Robert III of Crown Point, A.J., of Plymouth, and Trevor, of Merrillville; 7 nieces and nephews; grandparents; and a huge host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Brian followed in the footsteps of his older brothers and enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 2007. He was deployed in November 2011 to Afghanistan where he served as a Combat Engineer. Brian loved life, especially spending time in Chicago, playing basketball, entertaining his nieces and nephews, and playing "Battlefield" on his PS3. His fondness for Oakley sunglasses, nice shoes, neon green, and Mountain Dew is legendary among his family and friends. A memorial service for Brian will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. in the main auditorium of First Baptist Church of Hammond, 473 Sibley Street, Hammond, IN, 46320, with Pastor Jack Schaap officiating. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2012, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Memory Lane Memorial Park and Funeral Chapel, 6305 W. Lincoln Hwy., Crown Point, IN, 46307. Burial will be in the Veteran's section of Memory Lane Memorial Park. Published in Post-Tribune on January 15, 2012
Sgt. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, Ind., died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. Leonhardt, Sergeant Brian 21, of Merrillville, died in Afghanistan on Friday, January 6, 2012, while serving our country. He was a member of the 713th Engineer Company of the Indiana National Guard. He was born on March 6, 1990, the sixth of eight children. Brian graduated from Hammond Baptist High School, where he was a standout basketball player, in May 2008. Brian is survived by his wife, Dianne, of Schererville; his parents, Robert Leonhardt, Jr., of LOFS and Marie Leonhardt of Merrillville; 2 sisters, Theresa (Keith) Stoneback of Crown Point and Jackie of Merrillville; 5 brothers, Chuck (Christy) of Knox, Randy and Robert III of Crown Point, A.J., of Plymouth, and Trevor, of Merrillville; 7 nieces and nephews; grandparents; and a huge host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Brian followed in the footsteps of his older brothers and enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 2007. He was deployed in November 2011 to Afghanistan where he served as a Combat Engineer. Brian loved life, especially spending time in Chicago, playing basketball, entertaining his nieces and nephews, and playing "Battlefield" on his PS3. His fondness for Oakley sunglasses, nice shoes, neon green, and Mountain Dew is legendary among his family and friends. A memorial service for Brian will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. in the main auditorium of First Baptist Church of Hammond, 473 Sibley Street, Hammond, IN, 46320, with Pastor Jack Schaap officiating. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2012, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Memory Lane Memorial Park and Funeral Chapel, 6305 W. Lincoln Hwy., Crown Point, IN, 46307. Burial will be in the Veteran's section of Memory Lane Memorial Park. Published in Post-Tribune on January 15, 2012
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