Leo W. Sahlhoff Jr.

Leo W. “Sonny” Sahlhoff, Jr, 85, formerly of Bremen and rural Walkerton, stepped gently into the loving arms of Jesus on Thursday morning, January 23, 2025 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw. Leo was born on November 19, 1939, in Bremen to Leo and Esther (Schlundt) Sahlhoff, Sr., the sixth of eight children.  Leo was baptized into Christ on December 7, 1939, and confirmed his faith on March 29, 1953, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bremen.  He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and Bremen High School, graduating in1957.  On April 4, 1964, he married Dorothy L. “Dot” Hohman at Shiloh Wesleyan Church, near Plymouth. Leo and Dot purchased a farm near Walkerton in 1968.   Leo worked most days from sunup to sundown to provide for his family.  He worked the farm, which was his passion, and worked at various manufacturing plants that included Allis Chalmers, South Bend Stamping and EWI. He always had a beautiful vegetable garden that he would find solace in for a while when he returned home from the factory each summer day.  He would then head to the barn to care for his livestock with impeccable care.   His most favorite blessing in his life was his family.  He loved his girls and was their biggest cheerleader, no matter the activity they were involved in.  In later years, one would find him on the front bench awaiting the start of the sport or activity that his grandchildren were involved in, and he rarely missed a game or performance.  He was a loving father to Karmen (Chris) Leeper of Bremen, April (James) Schmidt of Warsaw, and Rhonda (Dustin) Davis of Mentone.  He also loved being a grandfather to Dillon (Lexie) Davis, Evan Schmidt, Sierra (LeRoy) Dawson, Sarah (Anthony) Hatter, Anna (Alex) Cartwright, Katie Schmidt and Elizabeth Schmidt.  His newest blessing was great-grandson Declan Davis.  Also surviving are his siblings, Marian Loucks, Elkhart, John (Carole) Sahlhoff of Bremen, Jane Allen of Plymouth and Ellen (Lewis) Haug of Bremen as well as many nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy L. “Dot”, infant son, Tony Lee and sisters, Doris Reed, Dorothy A. Sahlhoff and Carolyn Douglass. A time of visitation will be held 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 605 S. Center St., Bremen.  Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the church with one hour of visitation before the service.  Burial will follow in Bremen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  The family wishes to thank the staff of Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw for the wonderful care extended to Leo.  He was treated with love and respect, and his family is very grateful.