From Susanne Evens, President, St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities:

Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all.

If you can only remember me with tears, then don’t remember me at all.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Most of you have already heard the peaceful passing of Roy Leimberg on Saturday, October 22, 2016.

It is hard for me to convey my feelings and the impact Roy had on my life in such a short space. He became a dear friend and mentor and he cared so deeply about the causes he served, especially St. Louis – Stuttgart Sister Cities. His generosity of time, friendship and financial support has had a huge impact on many lives. I hope that everyone, when such people like Roy cross their paths, never take them for granted. I certainly never did, and never will. Many of us will miss him dearly, I particularly will miss his sassiness, his friendship and his guidance and the “Roy Way of how things are supposed to be done”.

There will not be a formal memorial service, but Harrison, Ilona Wilken and I will host a Life Celebration Gathering on Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the German Cultural Society Hall on 3652 South Jefferson, St. Louis, Missouri 63118 and you are invited to celebrate Roy’s life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the St. Louis Family Resource Center or St. Louis – Stuttgart Sister Cities are requested.

Following is a summary of Roy’s successful life and career:

He was born and raised in North St. Louis and lived his entire life in the City. His father and grandparents immigrated to St. Louis from Germany in 1928, under the sponsor–ship of the Krey Packing Company. Until the late 1950’s the family operated Leimberg’s German Style Sausage Company. His maternal grandfather, Wm. J. Brach, operated an Apothecary/Pharmacy at the corner of 14th and Market Street, where the Kiel Opera House now stands.

In February, 1955, he began working as a draftsman for Pitzman’s Company of Surveyors & Engineers, which was established in 1859, and is the oldest surveying/engineering firm in St. Louis. The company was purchased by several employees in 1970. In 1972, Roy became majority stockholder and President of the company. He continued in that position

until 2005, when he decided it was time to move into retirement and sold the company. At that time he became President Emeritus and subsequently President Emeritus-Retired on June 29, 2007. Although retired, he consulted on several projects for the company. Roy has served as president of the Municipal Engineers & Surveyors Association of Greater St. Louis; the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors; and served for MSPS as past Governor of the National Society of Professional Surveyors.

Roy got involved with the St. Louis – Stuttgart Sister Cities in 1977 when he volunteered to host a father and son, who were members of the Weingarten Musikverein, performing at the annual Strassenfest. In 1985 Roy was invited to serve on the St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities board of directors and at the first meeting was elected Vice-President, four years later was elected President and served for 8 years. During his term as President, the organization has undertaken various annual events such as The Winter Ball Karneval; a Christmas Reception (as a benefit for children); bus trips to the Kansas City Maskenball, Chicago Maskenball and the Germanfest in Milwaukee. Also during his term The Volksmarsch Club was organized and continues to function for the enjoyment of walkers and hikers.

Roy always considered the Winter Ball Karneval to be his greatest achievement, which is an annual celebration of Germany’s 5th Season and for 29 years he brought together friends from near and as far away as Germany. Please ask Harrison if you have not heard the story on how Winter Ball got started.

In 1991, Roy was awarded the William E. Gruening, Jr. plaque from the Kansas City Germania Club; and in 2012, at the St. Louis–Stuttgart Sister Cities’ 25th anniversary, he received the President’s Award. He was also proud to be a member of the Chicago Rheinischer Verein Karneval Club.

He also served on the Board of the German American Heritage Society. Roy was one of the rare recipients of both the Carl Schurz Award (in 1999, for his dedication to the preservation of the history and heritage of our German forebears), and the Friedrich Hecker Freedom Award (in 2007, for his assistance in the promulgation of cooperation and understanding between Germany and the United States).

On July 20, 2000, Roy received his greatest honor, The Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award, from Wolfgang Ischinger, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, conveyed through the efforts of Honorary Consul Anna Mayer Beck.

We will miss our Volksmarsch Trailmeister, Karnevalist Extra Ordinaire, Tour Guide and Goodwill Ambassador for the City of St. Louis.