LEONARD JOHN CONRAD SPITZNAGEL

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

LEONARD JOHN CONRAD SPITZNAGEL
January 26, 1932 – November 13, 2022

It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of Leonard John Conrad Spitznagel on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Simkin Centre in Winnipeg.
Len was predeceased by his wife Sophi (2016), his son Donald (2012) and his sister Lynda Faith Lewis (1986), father Ludwig (1974), and mother Martha (1987). He will be forever missed by his son David, grandson Jacob, daughter-in-law Megan Adams (Marty Fisher), and his brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Judi, their daughters, Corinne and Cathy (son Connor) of Vancouver, BC as well as his sister's sons, Tim (Toronto) and Cory (Saskatoon). Len will be greatly missed by close family friend Carol Fraser, Megan and Marty's children and grandchildren, Courtney, Greg, Spencer and Myles Welch, Josh, Natalie and Caleb Fisher, Jordan Fisher and Julie Lazo, and Connor Fisher as well as Sophi's siblings, Adele (Wilf) Betts, Olga Buss, Emil Zapotochny and their families.
Leonard was born at Saskatoon City Hospital and raised in Saskatoon. He attended Nutana Collegiate lettering in hockey, basketball, and soccer. In 1950 he moved to Winnipeg to apprentice as a machinist with the C.N.R. at the Fort Rouge Shops. Len was an excellent fastball player and played for the C.N.R. fastball team in the 1950s. Len completed his apprenticeship in 1956 and worked for the C.N.R. until 1988. While apprenticing in Winnipeg he met the love of his life, Sophi Zapotoczny of Komarno, MB (January 8, 1930 - December 17, 2016). They were married July 30, 1955 in Winnipeg. With Len at C.N.R. and Sophi at Great West Life they started their 61-year journey together. Len had career stops in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Kindersley, and Montreal. Len thoroughly enjoyed his time in Kindersley and fit right in with all the local curlers and hockey players. He enjoyed many local bonspiels during his tenure there. Len always spoke fondly of the time he spent in Kindersley. Len and Sophi eventually landed back in Winnipeg in 1980 where they permanently settled in Fort Richmond.
After a long and successful career with C.N.R. Motive Power, Len retired in 1988 with 38 years of loyal service. He was extremely proud of his time spent as Locomotive Foreman at Chappell Yard Saskatoon, Locomotive Foreman at Kindersley Round House, and as General Foreman of Symington Yard Winnipeg. Len's father Ludwig worked 50 years for C.N.R., retiring as a conductor in 1965. Len loved working for the C.N.R., as did his father. It would be an understatement to say that railroading was in Len's blood. Len was an active member of the CN Curling Club in Saskatoon for years (almost losing a finger fixing the ice plant there one afternoon). When the Saskatoon CN rail yard relocated from city center to the west end, Len was one of many who helped make the building of the new CN Curling Club a reality. The new CN Club opened in fall of 1965.
Len's retirement was active as he had more time to fully enjoy his lifelong passion of curling. Len joined the Heather Curling Club (H.C.C.) in 1980 when the family relocated back to Winnipeg. Not only did he represent the club in zone play at the mens', seniors' and masters' levels, there is no end to the list of his volunteer activity. Len was a President of the Heather Curling Club and wore the burgundy H.C.C. Past Presidents' jacket with pride. Len was extremely proud of his curling volunteer awards. In 2004/2005 Len was a recipient of the Manitoba Curling Association/Investors Group Curling Club Volunteer Award the second year the award was presented. He was also extremely honoured to receive the Heather Curling Club Honorary Lifetime Membership, the Walter Perchaylo Heather Curling Club Volunteer Award, and the Heather Curling Club Volunteer Appreciation Award. Len was especially proud to be a Heather Rink Limited shareholder and Director and actively participated in the operation of the club for over 25 years. It was here, at the Heather Curling Club, that he made many lifelong friendships. Len was highly respected by his follow members, volunteers, and curlers due to his sense of humour and no-nonsense style.
In addition to his love of all things curling, Len was a diehard Saskatchewan Roughrider fan, very rarely missing any CFL games. This was a bond he shared with his younger brother, Bob, with whom he would spend countless hours talking on the phone about all things CFL and Roughriders. He was also a big NHL and Jets fan and enjoyed his season tickets during the 1980s and 1990s with his sons.
Some of Sophi's and Len's greatest memories were of time spent on summer vacations with their family, in the early years at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and as the boys grew up, camping every summer in B.C., especially at Radium Hot Springs, where David and Donald were left to explore. Sophi would spend hours soaking up the sun in the hot springs. Len loved to use his 35mm camera and took many pictures, leaving us with a multitude of Kodachrome slides. In retirement, both Len and Sophi had very fond memories of trips to Barbados with Emil, and to his mother's homeland, Ireland, with Bob and Judi. However, their favourite activity was simply spending time with David, Donald and Jacob whether that was at home or at David's summer cottage.
The family would like to acknowledge the staff on Weinberg 1 at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre in Winnipeg. We will be forever grateful for the love, kindness and incredible care you provided to Leonard these last few years of his life.
As requested, cremation has occurred and plans for interment are pending.
In remembrance of Leonard's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to CancerCare Manitoba.

Make a donation to

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 17, 2022