Michael E. Leach

"Mike" "Herr Leach" "Leachee"

GLANDORF – Michael E. Leach, 83, of Glandorf, passed away on Sunday October 13, 2024, at the Meadows of Ottawa.   Mike was born August 14, 1941, in Rumson, New Jersey, to Robert and Agnes (Heckman) Leach. In 1950, the family relocated to the Heckman ancestral home in Glandorf. He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant sister Patricia Ann; his brother John Leach; and a nephew James Leach. He is survived by two nieces JoAnn (Denton) Landon, Mary (Alan) Unterbrink, a nephew, Dr. John Robert (Renaee) Leach; and a sister-in-law, Joyce Leach.

He graduated from Glandorf High School in 1960 and immediately attended UNOH (formerly Northwestern School of Commerce, in Lima) Upon graduation he worked in the sales office at American Agricultural Chemical Company in Cairo until 1963. While employed there he attended night classes at Ohio Northern University in Ada and Saturday classes at St. Gerard's branch of Mary Manse College in Lima. Eventually he matriculated at Ohio Northern majoring in English and minoring in art, German, and business.

While at ONU, he wrote for the university newspaper and college yearbook. He served as a research assistant to Dr. A. Louise Hastings in the English department and was inducted into Kappa Delta Phi, national honorary society in education and became the founding president of Sigma Tau Delta, national honorary society in English at ONU. During this time, he also was employed by the Putnam County Library.

Upon graduation in 1967, (B.A.) he began his 38-year career on the faculty at Pandora Gilboa High School as an English teacher and the first teacher of German in Putnam County following World War I.

In 1972, he was named English department chairman. It was his joy to conduct over 20 student/ adult tours of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

In retirement he continued to teach at UNOH and the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Bluffton College.

A life-time learner, in 1968, he was one of 50 German teachers from across the nation to study at the Institute for the Advanced Study of German at Montana State in Bozeman, Montana, on a National Defense Education Act scholarship. During the summers 1972-1974, and 1975 he was employed at Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park, Montana-Summers that changed his life and brought him a host of friends from across the country.

In 1973, he was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar at the Goethe Institut in Ebersberg, Germany. Later he studied at the Padageoische Hochschule fuer Deutschunterricht at the University of Saltzburg, Austria. In 1975, he completed his Master of Arts degree in American studies at Bowling Green State University. His master's thesis was later published as a book "Called to the Vinyard" detailing the religious community in Glandorf and the significance of St. John's church, one of four books he published on the church. He served on the Parish Council, was chairman of the 150th Sesquicentennial of the Precious Blood community in Glandorf. He was parish representative to the Toledo Diocesan Parish Assembly, was instrumental in re-establishing contact with the mother community in Germany, served on the Board of Directors of Social Services in the Toledo Dioceses and the Board of Directors of Social Services in Putnam, Allen and Van Wert counties, served on the board of directors of the Ministry to the Charismatic Renewal of the Dioceses. Since 1967, he functioned as the parish historian conducting numerous tours of the church. He also served as Christmas sacristan and on the Liturgical Environment Committee. He was the founder and first curator of the St. John's church museum.

Following the disastrous 1992 fire, the parish Council appointed him project director in restoring and decorating the church. In 2017 he again served as the design specialist and historian for further restoration. Under his direction the 1878 frescoes of the 12 apostles were revealed and gothic pews were installed in the church. His influence on the historic nature of the parish plant are myraid including the pioneer cemetery restoration, the erection of the Stations of the Cross, the statues of St. John and St. Francis, the memorial to the deceased priests and brothers, and the German-style crucifix at the Marian shrine. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Putnam County Historical Society for ten years, received a distinguish historian commendation from the Ohio Historical Society;and for his publication "Laborers in the Vinyard",  he was awarded a Distinguished Historian Citation from the Center for Archival Research at Bowling Green State University.

Mike loved spending time with friends, sharing his garden, his love of birds and dogs, collecting antiques and religious articles, and relating the history of Glandorf, a lifetime of study, learning to play a number of musical instruments in his retirement, and meeting and corresponding with former students and faculty members. It was his joy to bring the history of Glandorf into the limelight and interpret it for the next generations.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on October 19, 2024, at St. John's Catholic Church, Glandorf, with public viewing one hour before the service. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Following the funeral service, there will be a sharing of memories and a luncheon at the American Legion. The public is welcome. Officiating at the Mass will be, the Reverend Tony Fortman, Reverend Matt Keller, with the Reverend Rick Friebel, as principal celebrant. Deacon Eric Kaufman will be the homilist.

In lieu of flowers or other memorials, please address all contributions to the Glacier Park Foundation, PO Box 15641 Minneapolis, MN 55415 in Mike's memory.

Arrangements are under the direction of LOVE FUNERAL HOME, Ottawa.

Condolences may be expressed at www.lovefuneralhome.com.

Glacier Park Foundation
PO Box 15641, Minneapolis MN 55415