Leo Fredrick Tautges, age 90, of Brainerd, went on to meet Jesus on April 21 while at the Veteran’s Home in Minneapolis. Leo’s Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, April 26, at noon, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd, with Fr. Paul Strommer officiating.Leo was born Oct. 17, 1926, in St. Mathias Township, to Martin and Margaret Tautges. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Brainerd. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy aboard a ship in the Marshall Islands in the North Pacific. Leo was united in marriage to Carol E. Rowland. The couple raised their family in the Brainerd area. Leo worked at the Potlatch Paper Company for 37 years. He was an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed biking, fishing, dancing and gardening. After spending 87 years in this area, he moved to Minneapolis in 2014.
Leo is survived by his children, Colleen (Paul) Insley, of Cambridge; Gene (Debbie) Tautges, of Pagosa Springs; Joan (Roger) Svare, of Blaine; and Karen (Jon) Parisian, of Minnetonka; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a sister, Laura Stang, of St. Cloud; and a sister-in-law, Ruby Tautges, of Brainerd. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Margaret; his wife, Carol; a son, Wayne; a sister, Margaret; and two brothers, George and Ray.
