Leonard J. Vizina

Leonard J. Vizina, age 67, of Owatonna, Minnesota, died Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at his home.

He was born June 2, 1934 in Baraga, Michigan the son of Lawrence and Virginia (Cadeau) Vizina. He was raised in Baraga. Married Dolores Olson on October 16, 1954 in L'Anse, MI and they made their home following the marriage. He served in the US Army from April of 1955 to March of 1957. He began his career in the forest industry in 1959 with the Pettibone Corp. of Baraga, MI. In 1972 Len joined Carol Nelson and Merle Dalland and together they developed National Hydro-Ax. In 1973 his family joined Len in Owatonna where they have since made their home. Today this business is Blount Inc. Over the course of his career he worked in various upper-management positions. He retired in July of 1997 as vice president of engineering. In 1998 he joined Akkerman Manufacturing of Brownsdale, MN as Chief Operations Officer and from June of '99 to the present he has served a member of their board of directors. Timer Harvesting Magazine recently named him as one of the top influential men of his generation in the forest industry. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Owatonna. He served on the Board of Directors for the Owatonna Foundation. He was a member of the Owatonna Eagles and Elks Clubs and of the American Legion in L'Anse, MI. He served on the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce from 1985-88 and was its chairman of the board in 1987. He was a member of the first board of directors for the Owatonna Business Incubator. He was a long time member of the Owatonna Country Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, being in the woods, gardening and especially time spent with his grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the Owatonna Foundation, Owatonna Area Hospice House, Mayo Clinic Multiple Myeloma Research Center.

He is survived by his wife Dolores Vizina of Owatonna; four sons Michael (Deborah) Vizina of Skanee, MI, Patrick (Ruth) Vizina and Timothy (Deb) Vizina both of Owatonna, MN, Thomas (Penny) Vizina of Sault Saint Marie, MI, three brothers, Raymond (Ethel) Vizina of Baraga, MI, Russell (Kathy) Vizina of Sault Saint Marie, MI, Donald (Karen) Vizina of Baraga; two sisters, Mary Lou (Arvin) Prebelski of DePere, WI, Helen Ann (Paul) Clisch of Baraga, MI; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Lawrence Vizina and his mother Virginia Cadeau.

Visitation will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in Friday from 5-8 p.m.. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 18, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owatonna. The Reverend Tom Hargesheimer of St. Joseph Catholic Church will be officiating. Burial will be in the L'Anse Evergreen Cemetery on Tuesday, May 21, at 10:00 a.m.. Fr. Greg Heikkala will officiate. The Jacobson Funeral Home of L'Anse is assisting the family locally.