Leonard Raymond Lisec was born on January 6, 1935, to Ervin F. and Emma N. (Andelt) Lisec on the family farm near Crete, Nebraska. Leonard spent his young life on the farm southeast of Pleasant Hill and attended District #10 Country School. He only spoke Czech when he started school. He graduated from Crete High School in 1953. On May 20, 1956, Leonard was united in marriage to Darlene M. Slama at the Saline County Court House in Wilber, Nebraska. A family dinner was held at the home of the bride's parents, Adolph and Evelyn Slama. A dance was held at Tabor Hall in their honor. The Cochnar Band played. They were blessed with 3 children, Debra, Darrell, and Dawn. They lived on a farm near Crete and then moved to their present home in 1961, where Leonard passed away at home surrounded by family on March 6, 2017. His early years he worked construction on Lincoln Airport Runways and constructed the underground sewer lines. He worked on the Emerald Bridge and several other roads and bridges with the Able, Dobson and Robertson Construction Crew as well as Steele Brothers. Leonard joined the Navel Reserves his Junior year of high school and always thought it was very, very important to serve military time for his country. He went active Naval Air Force in 1956. He worked as a jet mechanic. He did many military training tours on jets. In 1954 at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago he got polio, became very sick and spent 2 months in the hospital there. He came home ready to make up for lost time but he was very weak. Recovery was slow but he never let anyone know. After his discharge from military service he went to work nights at Gooches Mills and farmed. He later worked nights at Crete Mills and farmed. He did a lot of custom baling and windrowing hay for farmers. He always worked very hard so he would have money to retire. As everyone knows, his hobby and favorite pastime was playing his accordian, entertaining at many different places and events and at home with family and friends. This was a very great stress reliever for him. He began playing the accordian about 72 years ago when he was 10 years old. He spent his weekends with his grandparents, Ed and Mary Andelt. Leonard went upstairs to their attic and found a two row Hohner, the keys were fine, but the bellows were shot. He brought the accordian down to his grandmother who was a talented musician. She taught him to play "The Green Meadow Waltz". She taught on one key only because it didn't have enough bellow air. But, this taught him the basics of changing key by pushing in and out. His parents saw his interest so they purchased a two row Hohner from Frank Mager for $30. Then his dad talked to Richard Kliment, Sr. to give him lessons. His thoughts of music really came together when he heard Matt Sladky's KLMS band with Vern Belik on the accordian, who became Leonard's Idol. He watched Vern's fingering with every song he played. After listening to Vern Belik, he began playing accordian music by ear and he began picking up the music extremely fast. In his years of high school and Navy Service time, friends would gather, and the accordian was always a part of the gathering. Vic and Rose Stich, elderly friends of his, who loved to harmonize, always sang when he played. This helped him learn to memorize songs correctly. In high school he played 1st trumpet for Crete High School Band under the very talented Lumir Havlicek. At the time he got to play solos and taps for different occasions. Later years he played at weddings, funerals, parties and bars. Son Darrell accompanied him on bass, Albert Luzum and Joe Hojer would at different times accompany him. He enjoyed collecting antique tractors, woodworking, and gardening. Leonard also enjoyed flying up until the sudden traffic death of his father-in-law. In their later years he enjoyed traveling in the states and abroad, the Czech Republic twice, Alaska, Hawaii, and many other states. Leonard said that playing the accordian took him places he would have never seen and he made some of his closest friends that he might have never met. He said that if he had it to do over again he would do it in a heartbeat. LEONARD RECEIVED THE MUSICIAN HALL OF FAME OF CZECH MUSIC AWARD on January 20, 2016. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, parents in law: Adolph and Evelyn Slama, many aunts and uncles, daughter: Dawn Renae in 1994. Much sadness came to the family with the sudden passing of Dawn on October 11, 1994, which set the family on one of the saddest journeys of their life. Leonard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Darlene Lisec, daughter, Debra and husband Dan Jurena of Crete, son Darrell and wife Tammy Lisec of Crete. Grandchildren Dustin and wife, Liad Jurena of Beavercreek, Ohio, Devon Jurena of Crete, Alec and Cole Lisec of Crete. Great grand-daughters Daisy and Danielle Jurena of Beavercreek, OH. Sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Rose Marie and Shelley Bruha, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Services: 2:00 pm, Saturday, Kuncl Funeral Home, Crete. Visitation: Friday, 5 – 8 pm, funeral home. Memorials are in care of the family.