Leo Bartosh passed away peacefully with family by his side on Saturday, February 5th at the Good Samaritan Society Sogge Memorial in Windom. Leo August Bartosh was born September 25, 1930, to Carl and Monica (Freking) Bartosh on their farm near Heron Lake, MN. Leo was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Heron Lake High School. After high school, Leo enlisted in the US Army, and served as a mechanic, as well as a jeep and truck driver. Leo married Arlene Marie Maras on November 29, 1952, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom. The marriage was blessed with three daughters, Patty, Janel, and Monica. Leo was a wonderful husband and father, but his greatest love was the Lord. He was very devoted to his church and served as an usher, sang in the choir and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Legion in Heron Lake. After marriage, Leo and Arlene moved to farm near Delft, where they made their home for 70 years. Leo worked hard his whole life, farming, hauling livestock, managing his garbage route, and raising his three daughters. Leo became a garbage man in 1970. It was his dream job. He loved "junking" and the business grew after starting with only three customers. He often brought home more than he took to the landfill. He graciously opened his home to two foster boys, Mike & Bob Herman, whom he still loves today as his own. Sundays on the farm were "Funday", with relatives coming out to ride horses, snowmobiles or go-carts or playing a host of card games, making homemade ice cream, and building hay forts in the hay loft. Leo had a special place in his heart for children. After receiving a Santa suit for his birthday one year, Leo and Arlene made many special appearances as Santa & Mrs. Claus at Christmas parties, church programs, family gatherings, hospitals, and nursing homes. Seeing happy children and hearing people laugh, were two of Leo's favorite things. Leo was known as the "Onion Man". Every New Year's Eve, he would cut 6 onions in half, sprinkle salt over them and put them in the basement overnight. On New Year's Day morning, he would closely observe the onion halves to determine how much moisture they had collected to determine how much moisture was predicted for each month of the year. He also made seasonal weather predictions by observing the first four days of spring, which represented the four seasons of the year, and observed the temperatures, moisture, storms, and winds. These activities always made for good conversation. Leo is survived by his three daughters, Patricia Wensauer of Sleepy Eye, MN, Janel (Larry) Eichstadt of Jeffers, MN, and Monica (Wayne) Muller of Windom; 4 grandchildren, Christy Kallevig, Mindy Shupe, Bridgette Armstrong and Andrea Tiede; 5 great-grandchildren; 4 siblings, Francis Bartosh of Windom, MN, Mary Ann Benson of Windom, MN, Margaret Ling of Des Moines, IA, and Phyl Hoffman of Sioux City, IA; and many family and friends. Leo is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 68 years, Arlene; his parents, Carl and Monica Bartosh; brother, Bernard and Charles Bartosh; and sisters, Sally Heger, Rita Schoborg. Gerry Cooley, and Josephine Bartosh, son-in-law, Jim Wensauer. Blessed be Dad's memory, laughter, and charitable works. Memories of Leo Bartosh's, written by his daughters. Last Hospital Stay-Sunday night- sitting with dad in the hospital, he was very confused. Had to keep reminding him he was in the hospital. He was in Iowa, church, clinic, outside and sometimes the hospital. After 20 minutes just decided to let him be where he wants to be. All of the sudden, he said, "I made it. I'm in heaven. Look at all the beautiful flowers!" he greeted some relatives by name. he found mom and told er I'm finally home, so we can be back together. A couple of minutes later, he was overlooking his funeral. He was waving at everyone and thanking them for coming! He pointed at the TV and asked me who that was? I said we are watching the Perry Mason show. "Oh my! Perry Mason came to sing in the church choir! WOW!" Over the next couple of days, he would tell us of all the relatives he got reconnected with. On Tuesday he told me "I'm next, I'm next!" He then was so happy because he found his mom and dad. His mom passed away when Leo was eight. He said she grabbed me, gave me a big hug and then plopped me down on her lap and said, "I love you." He was also very excited to find his childhood team of horses, Mike and Pat. He mentioned a horse, Dolly, too. We don't know if he had a horse Dolly growing up, but our family can relate to a Shetland pony, Dolly, the Haugen kids kept at our farm, which was very stubborn, so we would be very surprised if he missed that one. But, Leo loved horses. Over the next couple of days, dad kept us informed who he found to talk to. Dad's Family of 10 kids, not only lost their mother at a young age and a sister, but in 1944, they lost their farm from a devasting tornado. The lost everything. Neighbors, friends and relatives pitched in to help get back on their feet. At the young age of 14, he learned the passion and love of helping people whenever he could. A passion Leo had was collecting clothing, dishes and home furnishings to give to people who were poor and struggling. He was awarded with the recognition of Windom's "Mayor's Medal of Honor" and from KARE 11 television for "11 Who Care". As the bible states, "I was naked and you clothed me", a verse he lived by. Leo worked hard his whole life. Both as a young boy and in adult life. Dealing with chickens, cattle, pigs, milk cows, custom baling, farming, garbage route, and raising his three daughters. He also opened his home to two foster boys, Mike and Bob Herman, whom he still loves today as his own. Sunday "Funday" at the farm. Most Sunday afternoons consisted of relatives coming out to ride horses, snowmobiles, go-carts, a hot game of playing cards and/or softball, sledding, wiener roasts, homemade ice-cream and building the most awesome hay forts in the hayloft. One Sunday us cousins decided to go and repair wagons and tricycles that Leo collected from the garbage route. We were so proud at the end of the day that we fixed up 14 trikes and 5 wagons. Leo gave them away to needy families. Junk- Leo became a garbage man in 1970. It was a dream job to him. He started out with three customers and it grew from there. He loved junking. Sometimes we felt he brought more home than he took to the landfill. Being raised in the 30's and 40's, you never threw anything away! On the garbage route, he always loved talking to little children. Every truck had a bag of suckers to pass out to the kids. Santa- Leo's love for kids and creating happiness really came natural for him when he received a Santa Claus suit for his birthday. For many years after that, Arlene and Leo appeard at many Christmas parties, church Christmas programs, family gatherings, hospitals and nursing homes. Seeing happy children and hearing people laughing were two of Leo's favorite things! He also loved polka music dancing and singing. Favorite entertainment was a good ole game of cards- either 500, Whist or the German card game, Tarock. Leo had a gift of talking. Didn't matter if he knew you or NOT. He would talk to anyone! Monica said when she had to work with him on the garbage route, it would always take at least an hour longer because he would have to talk to everyone. He always had a story to tell! "The Onion Man"- For many years, Leo has been known as the "Onion Man". On New Year's Eve, his tradition was to cut six onions in half, sprinkle salt over them, and put in the basement overnight. New Year's Day morning he would closely look at the onion halves to see how much moisture had collected inside each half to predict how much moisture we would get each month that year. On the first four days of spring, Dad closely watched the weather to see what each season was going to be like for temperatures, moisture, storms, and winds. It was always a good topic of conversation for him wherever he went. Later Years- later in life, things got harder for him to do with his declining health. After working so hard all his life, it was hard for him to step back and just watch instead. He had a lot of frustrating days with his back and hip pain, arthritis, and aching legs among other health issues. Sometimes he wasn't the nicest person or said some hurtful words and for that we are truly sorry. One day while in the hospital, he spoke of being reunited with his brother, Charles and apologized to him for past words spoken to him. Maybe someday Dad may reunite with any of you, as well, to make amends from the past. It is his heart's desire to at least give him a chance as family and friends were Dad's most blessed gifts. He loved his wife Arlene, daughters Patty, Janel and Monica, the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His greatest love was for the Lord. Very devoted to his church and served as an usher, sang in the choir and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. The "onion man" was given the distinguished honor of cutting all the onions for the burgers served at the KC food stand at the Cottonwood County Fair. As a KC member, he performed many prayer services, led the rosary at many funerals. During the daytime, he spent several hours watching his favorite TV channel, EWTN, a Catholic network.