Leo William Sanson

Leo William Sanson, born on March 24, 1953 to Paul and Doris Sanson in Breckenridge, Missouri left us on the evening of July 8, 2010. Leo grew up in Breckenridge where he met Donna Knecht and they were united in the bonds of matrimony October 3, 1970 in the same house he was born in. He served the United States Army as a Specialist IV from 1972 until 1974. He spent most of his life behind the wheel of anything that moved. He drove a log truck his young adult life to provide for Donna and their three small children. He also drove a truck hauling cars for United Transport and hauled various trailers full of goods across the country for Farmland Industries until he retired in 1989 from an accident while working. You could find Leo behind the wheel of a tractor raking hay making sure each and every row was done a certain way, or on the four wheeler giving one of their dogs a ride around the farm. He spent the rest of his years farming and watching his children grow into adults and begin their own families. He was the apple of his grandchildren Levi, Quinton, Sydney, Christine, Ashley, Samantha, Elisha, and Micah's eyes, giving them the power of love and laughter while spoiling them before sending them back to their parents full of chocolate bars, candy kisses, and various other treats. His great grandchildren loved to visit and receive the same treats and spoiling his grandchildren were given. He loved westerns that included John Wayne and had a passion for cooking, grilling, and tasting all the interesting dishes he would concoct in the kitchen while smiling watching his young daughter glare as she cleaned up every dish in the kitchen. Dishes with interesting names such as Pizza Gunk and Settler's Beans were concocted and enjoyed by the family in the evenings. He spent summers swimming and fishing with his family down by the river. He taught his two sons how to hunt and fish while they learned the value of family. He was also well-known for a mean game of Pitch and other card games he loved to play with friends and family at the local Eagles Club in Chillicothe, Missouri where he was a member. You might also find him dancing with his wife in the privacy of their own home after all the excitement of the children had come and gone. He loved running his fingers through her long hair and smiled when she brought him a lock after a long awaited hair cut. He was always there for his family and friends whether it be taking time to teach a skill to his sons, camping with his brothers at the river or sharing time teaching card games or fixing farm implements with his friends. He will be missed by all those who loved and cherished him. His wife of forty years, Donna Sanson, his daughter Sherri (Steve) O'Dell, his two sons, David (Deena) Sanson, and Jesse (Cindy) Sanson, his two brothers, Tom (Beth) Sanson, TJ (Rhonda) and two sisters Ruth (Wayne) Wheelbarger and Dolly Durnil survives Leo. He is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Doris Sanson and two brothers, Forest and David Green. Services will be held at Pitts Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Missouri on Tuesday, July13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a family visitation on Monday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Pitts Funeral Home. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Breckenridge, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leo Sanson Memorial Fund and may be left at the funeral home or mailed to the Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com Arrangements are under the direction of the Pitts Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Missouri.