Leroy D. "Sodie" Kuecker, 85, of North Port, FL passed away peacefully Friday morning June 6, 2025, at Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte, FL. He had family members with him in his last hours. Leroy was born April 6, 1940, in Harvard, IL. to the late Laverne "Sodie" and Mary Petersen Kuecker. He grew up on a dairy farm just south of Lake Geneva, the oldest of six siblings, and attended Alden-Hebron High. He worked as a heavy equipment operator at Paul May & Sons for many years. He lived in the Twin Lakes, Wi and Spring Grove, IL areas for most of his life, until retiring to North Port, FL in 2004 with his wife Jamie. He spent many years on softball, bowling and golf leagues and making friends at different establishments. He wasn't a big talker, but loved to joke, tease, and connect over a drink … or two. He was known to cook up a good batch of cherry soup. He was revered for his dapper handlebar mustache and known for his cigar smoking, which became the signature "grandpa" smell. While sporting a mustache, full grey beard, and a big belly, some of his grandchildren believed that he was either Santa Claus or Kenny Rogers. In his later years he spent as much time on the golf course as he could and had a weekly routine of meeting up with friends at specific places, on specific days, for food and socializing. He and his siblings were a close bunch, always with a smile and a joke and an occasional fruit basket picture. His children, grandchildren, great and great, great grandchildren enjoyed his company at family gatherings, reunions and meeting up with him at his usual places. He made a point to attend as many of their events as possible and was proud of their accomplishments, often only expressing this by bragging about them to others. He is survived by his six children - Lynne & Wes Schmitz, Colette & Herb Neufeld, Yvonne & Greg Freund, Chris Kuecker, Angel Dawley, and Robin Berry; he is further survived by 14 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, 4 siblings - Sally Lubeno, Polly Burright, Tobey & Debra Kuecker, Patsy & Bill Thornburgh - brother-in-law David Plahm, and many nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jamie, stepson Aaron Baxter, sister Cindy Plahm, brother-in-law Dale Burright, and niece/goddaughter Brynn Thornburgh. A Life Celebration will be held at Veteran's Park on Fellows Rd in Genoa City, WI on Sunday, July 27, 2025, @ 3:00 pm. (Please bring your own lawn chair.)