A funeral Mass for Leonard C. Burch will be at 11:00am Thursday, December 27, 2012 at Pax Christi Catholic Church with Rev. Joe Fogal officiating.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5:00pm – 7:30pm on Wednesday evening at River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Leonard Cecil Burch, 78, of Rochester passed away on December 20, 2012 at Season's Hospice in Rochester.

Leonard Cecil Burch was born January 17, 1934 to Cecil and Agnes (Tradup) Burch on a farm near Potsdam, MN.  At the age of 6, the family moved to rural Stewartville, MN where he attended early grade school.  The family then moved to rural Pine Island, MN where he graduated from Pine Island High School in 1953.

Leonard was a Veteran having served in the Army from 1954 to 1956.

On December 22, 1956 he married Dorothy M. Lilly in Rochester, MN.  During their 56 years of marriage, they raised five children and made their home in the Rochester and Byron areas.

On October 1, 1956 Mr. Burch began a 33-year career with IBM, training at Endicott, New York, returning to the Rochester location in 1957 where he worked in various capacities of model making and Department Manager.  He retired in 1990.  From 1992 to 1997 he was employed by American Express and in recent years had worked part time for Gold Cross Courier Services.

Leonard was a member of Pax Christi Catholic Church in Rochester.

He enjoyed golf, fishing, woodworking; having made many treasured pieces of furniture including hutches, credenza, cradles, rocking chairs and many other items for his wife, children and grandchildren.  Leonard and Dorothy enjoyed winter vacationing in Arizona for 21 consecutive years, having many wonderful times with friends and relatives.

Leonard was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather.  He was known for his good-natured smile and mild manner.

In addition to his wife he is survived by five children; Richard A. (Eileen) of Kasson, Randy J. (Arlene) of Temecula, CA, James L. (Pamela) of Kasson, Deanna K. (James) Anderson of Champlin, MN and Patricia L. Trelstad of Rochester.  Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; Timothy (Christine) Burch, Alicia (Kevin) Mickow, Janelle (Thomas) McHugo, Daniel (Mary) Burch, Megan (Jay) Berry, Anthony (Theresa) Burch, Ashley Burch, Amanda Burch, Michael Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Daniel Anderson and Thomas Anderson, Jessica Trelstad  and Heather Trelstad; eight great-grandchildren Jonathan and Rebekah Burch, Andrew and Kyle Sorensen, Zachary McHugo, Kole, Savannah and Karsin Mickow; a sister Marlys McRoberts of Apple Valley, MN.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Dorothy Hartleip of Byron, MN.

The family prefers memorial be made to Mayo Clinic Cancer Research or Pax Christi Catholic Church.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.