Leon May

Leon May, age 79 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Friday, March 14, 2025 at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, NE after a long battle with Parkinson's.

Funeral service has been moved to Friday, March 21, 2025 due to weather.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Laurel with the Rev. Jerry Connealy officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel.

Pallbearers will be Leon’s nephews: Kevin May, Duane Nemec, Ryan Hintz, Michael Jorgensen, Jamie Nemec, and James Vath. Honorary pallbearers will be Dwayne Freeman, Mark Lute, Roger James, Steve Thompson, Gregg James, and Vel Morten.

Arnold Leo “Leon” was born on October 19, 1945 in Wayne, Nebraska to Arnold E. and Elsie Cecilia (Noelle) May. Leon attended school in Laurel, Hartington, and Randolph – graduating from Saint Frances High School in 1965. Following graduation, he worked as a farm hand for Ernie Fork for several years. In 1970 he purchased a concrete plant from Sellintines of West Point, NE. After much work and help from friends and family, he opened Laurel Ready Mix. He ran his business selling concrete, slag, gravel, and rock until selling the business in 1998. Following the sale, he kept busy hauling scrap metal for his brother Marv.

Despite the many challenges of living with Parkinson’s, with the help of many good friends & family he was able to stay on his acreage west of Laurel until 2022 when he moved to Kinship Pointe in Wayne. There he received excellent care from their staff. Leon’s family is especially grateful to Lexi for always going that extra mile of care and compassion with Leon.

He was a life member of St. Mary’s in Laurel. He had a lifetime of service to his church and faith. First as an altar boy, and in 1982 he became St. Mary’s first extraordinary minister of the Eucharist along with being one of their first lectors. He also served on the rural North Central deanery pastoral, the archdiocesan pastoral executive board, was a parish council member and worked with the Nebraska Right to Life. He organized parishioners to pray at abortion clinics and helped with youth activities. Leon was a CCD teacher for many years. He was also a big baseball fan especially the Kansas City Royals.

Leon is survived by two sisters Elaine Jorgensen of Norfolk, Mary Nemec of Norfolk; two brothers Gerald (Nancy) May of Fremont, Marv (Tammy) May of Dixon; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Deanna and nephew Corey Jorgensen.