Alvin "Leroy" Anno

Alvin “Leroy” Anno of Diggins, MO was born August 24, 1949, in Topeka, KS. The oldest child of Albert Anno Jr. and May (Berridge) Anno. After a brief illness, Leroy passed away at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, MO on February 10, 2024.

Leroy grew up in the Topeka area. His formal education began in a rural one-room schoolhouse. He and three siblings walked a mile (up hill both ways) twice each school day. As a teenager, Leroy played football in high school and worked a variety of part-time jobs. In 1968, Leroy graduated from Seaman High School, Topeka, KS with a trade school certification in welding. That fall he enlisted in the Navy. He served aboard the USS Thomaston LSD-28, as a welder. Leroy was sent to Vietnam on a far east tour of duty (August 1969-March 1970). After moving to Minnesota, he furthered his welding career working at Artic Cat, then being hired by F.M.C. of Mpls. There Leroy built rocket launchers for the military. As a welder specialist, he was selected to weld in a documentary film made for the U.S. Congress. He taught advanced welding classes at the plant to new employees. After 21 years, Leroy was forced into a medical retirement due to injuries received in an auto accident.

Leroy was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Diggins, MO. Over the years Leroy has served the communities he lived through his volunteering in 4-H, Lions Club, Kings Food Pantry, Cub Scouts, Aid Association for Lutherans. Leroy was a long time UAW union member.

Leroy enjoyed many different hobbies, including woodworking, being outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, cruising on his motorcycle, tending farm animals, and working in the garden. Leroy spent hours in his shop working on farm or lawn equipment, always with his radio on country music station. As his physical limitations increased, he enjoyed watching action movies, visits with family, friends, and neighbors.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents; his second mom, Bettie (Salyer) Anno; his two daughters, Sarah and Angela Anno; one son, Andy Anno; his brother, Howard Anno.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Durene (Dahle) Anno, of the home; his son, Aaron Anno (Amy Ross) of Aitkin, MN and daughter, Debra Desjarden (Paul) of Hutchinson, MN; siblings, Joan Towery, Delores Goldring, Russell Anno (Trudy), Cheryl Robbins, Deb Lynde, Chris Fry, Ruth Scully, Joyce Frye, Bobby Frye and Phillip (Paula) Frye. Four grandchildren, Austin Anno, Andrew Anno, Adam Anno, and Angela Anno; one great-granddaughter, Chloe Anno.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church, Diggins. Visitation will be at Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., Friday, February 16, 2024, from 6-7 p.m. Interment will be in Borgholm Cemetery, Borgholm Township, MN.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors, DAV, or American Cancer Society, and left in care of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO, 65706.