Gordon "Gordy" Peter Leibfried, 88, a retired U.S. Air Force Major, died at his senior-living community, Seasons at Maplewood, on the evening of August 17, 2015, after a bout with Alzheimer's disease. The son of crop and livestock farmers, Albert and Lucinda (Eisenminger) Leibfried, Gordon was born in Sherburn, MN, on September 2, 1926. Soon after graduating from Sherburn Public High School in 1944, Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp, which became the U.S. Air Force in 1947. His first overseas assignment was in Germany during the Occupation after WWII.
On December 27, 1947, Gordon was united in matrimony with Lucille Mary Skillings of Ghent, MN, in his hometown of Sherburn. Gordon was given the unusual distinction of being awarded a direct commission as a USAF officer, which helped to propel him forward in his 23-year military career as a Transportation Management Officer, retiring at the rank of Major in 1967.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Gordon and family settled into a newly-built home near Lakeville, MN, where three of his five children graduated from high school. Always eager for his next occupational adventure, Gordon used his training and experience in traffic management to work with a number of companies needing his expertise in planning and directing the shipment of raw materials and finished goods internationally. Those firms included: Frederick-Willys Inc. in Farmington, Canon Falls and Zumbrota, MN; Nordic Ware (Northland Aluminum Products) in St. Louis Park, MN; General Resource Corporation, Hopkins, MN; Boeddeker Manufacturing, Minneapolis, MN; and the antique malls owned by Blake Industries and Mary Frances Antiques in Hopkins, MN. He started his own business, Leibfried Transportation Consulting. Gordon also obtained a two year degree while maintaining his busy work schedule.
Gordon's avid interest in anything that could fly, float or move on wheels lead to his favorite job of all -- driving school buses for the Burnsville area public and parochial schools as a 25-year employee of First Student Bus Company in Burnsville, MN. Gordon had an exceptional safety and on-time record the entire time he drove for First Student. He truly enjoyed helping the many children he transported daily until reluctantly giving up the wheel at the age of 82 in 2009. His careers in transportation and enjoyment of traveling spanned all fifty U.S. states, many countries and four continents!
Ridgeview Condominium properties, in Burnsville, MN, also enjoyed having Gordon as a longtime resident from 1981 until 2013, and he served as association president there for 12 years. As a generous donor, Gordon was a supporter and member of many professional and community organizations, including the Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity, the Fort Snelling Officers Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Minnesota Zoo and Science Museum, the Guthrie Theater, Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville and The Church of St. Peter in North St. Paul. Gordon also loved all varieties of games and puzzles, golfing, nature, fishing, music, theater, going to amusement parks, good clean comedy and, most of all, his family and many friends.
Gordon is survived by: Five children: Mary Lorrene (Forbes), Kenai, AK; Mary Lorraine (Rutledge), Madison, WI; Lucinda Joan (Allen), Sharpsburg, GA; Steven Gordon Leibfried, Fargo, ND; and Stanley Davis Leibfried, Shoreview, MN. Also living are sister Jeanette Peterson, Bennington, NE and brother Keith Leibfried, Winona, MN. Gordon was exceptionally proud to also welcome eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren into our world.
Gordon is preceded in death by his parents and wife; three brothers - Lyle, Jerome and Marvin; and sister Lavonne Silver.
All of Gordon's relatives, friends and former co-workers are invited to share in the celebration of his life.
Visitation will be held at SANDBERG FUNERAL HOME, 2593 E. 7th Ave., North St. Paul, Sunday August 23 from 5-7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at CHURCH OF ST. PETER, 2600 N. Margaret St., North St. Paul, Monday August 24th at 10:30 a.m., with a visitation previous to the Mass at 9:30 a.m. Interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave. S., Minneapolis at 12:30 p.m.
Gordon's family requests that memorial donations be made to Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in lieu of sending flowers.