05 Nov George Leingang
George Alex Leingang, 81, was reunited with the love of his life on November 4, 2022. After having time with his daughters and grandkids, George passed away peacefully at his home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, ND. Burial will be at Mandan Union Cemetery. A Livestream of the Service will be available on the church’s website.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 8, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
George was born to Alex and Francis Leingang on March 29, 1941, in Mandan, ND. George was the third youngest of the 14 siblings. He graduated from Mandan High in 1961. George continued his education at the State school of Science in Wahpeton, ND. Upon graduation in 1963, he went on to work for the North Dakota Highway Department’s Bridge Division as an Architectural Draftsman. George met his love, Jean Arlene (Hinsz) Leingang in 1965 as they both worked for the highway department.
George and Jean started their family on September 30, 1967, having Georjean in 1971 and Toni in 1976. George received the North Dakota’s Outstanding Handicapped Citizen award in 1988 and was honored in Washington D.C. for his achievement. George retired from the North Dakota state Highway Department in 1996, completing a 33-year career. After raising his own family, George cherished his time with his grandkids Brennen, Addisyn and Stella. Being their biggest supporter, he enjoyed wheeling them around, attending their activities and sporting events.
He is survived by his daughters, Georjean (Brian) Nakagawa and Toni (Eric) Dowhy; his wonderful grandkids, Brennen, Addisyn and Stella; also, by sisters, Lorraine Heinert, Mary Heinert, Stephanie (Leo) Schwartz, Abby Olson, Deloris Beehler; and brother, Eugene Leingang; and many nieces, nephews.
George was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Francis Leingang; 3 sisters; and 4 brothers.
The recording of the service will be posted to the Bismarck Funeral Home website where you can also sign the online guestbook and share memories with his family at www.bismarckfuneralhome.com.
I can’t say enough how much Uncle George meant to me.George gave me my first baseball glove as a birthday present when I was 6 or 7 which made me love baseball and all other sports. I loved talking sports with George he was a diehard Bears, White Sox fan and I am a Viking, and Twins fan so we had fun picking on each other. Sports was fun but playing cards with George and the Leingang clan was the most fun you could ever have. I’ll always have those memories. I’m just so grateful and thankful to have had George as my Godfather.
George was like a big brother to me. When I was a young teenager he would give me money so that I could get in home poker games. He also took me prairie dog hunting in his red Pontiac Bonneville convertible. When he was courting Jean, he invited me along when he took her to the drive-in movie; so I could run to the concession stand to get refreshments. I was honored when he asked me to be a groomsman at their wedding.
I was inspired to become a civil engineer after George showed me some of his drawings of bridges that he made at the Highway Department. Eventually, I got a job in Bridge Division where George and I worked together on designing many bridge projects. George detailed the very first bridge abutment that I designed. George was well liked by everyone he came in contact with and had many friends at the Highway Department. The Highway Commissioner, Walt Hjelle, even came up to see George so that he could get in the World Series pool that George ran.
Not only was George an inspiration to me and others, he was genuinely a very nice man.
Rest in Peace My Big Brother.
I worked with George for many years in the Bridge Division. He was always easy to get along with
and I enjoyed working with him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of George’s family. I worked at the DOT and had the opportunity to get to know George. He was a great guy with a very positive attitude. RIP George.
George was truly one of the good ones. Quick with a smile, a drink, a card game, and what a laugh! No matter what was happening in my life he was a quiet source of support.
I can’t be there for the services today, but we are keeping him alive in our hearts and sending prayers of celebration and healing to family and friends.