|
|
Leonard Bernhard Sobanja, age 98, died peacefully Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at Cook County North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Leonard was born September 21, 1924, in Hinsdale, Illinois to Bernhard and Elsie (Lange) Sobanja. He graduated from Lane Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois. In June of 1943 the family moved to New Ulm, Minnesota. It was there that he met Louise Marie Marti at the local pool where she was a lifeguard. In January of 1945 he joined the Army and while on furlough he married Louise, then in August of 1945 he shipped out for the Philippines and was assigned to the Chemical Warfare Co. in Quezon City, Philippines. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army. After returning home he and Louise moved to the Twin Cities where he started school at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1947. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, a major in Social Studies and a minor in Art Education, and eventually obtained his Master of Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota. In the fall of 1951, he started a teaching job in Graceville, Minnesota, and in 1953 was offered the position of Principal, where he served for three more years. In 1956, he accepted the position of Principal at Cook County High School in Grand Marais, Minnesota. With four children, he and Louise moved to the north shore of Lake Superior where the family grew to six children. Leonard held the position of Principal for the next 19 years, and then taught social studies until his retirement in 1982, culminating in a 26-year career at CCHS.
In 1975 Louise passed away and Leonard later married Lennie Hystad. Together they built a house on Maple Hill where he lived until his passing. Throughout his life Leonard never stopped learning. He traveled the world, built log cabins, developed land and even spent a summer season at McMurdo Station in Antarctica at the age of 65. Besides traveling and building, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, harvesting maple syrup and wild rice, carving, woodworking, classical music and reading.
Leonard’s interest in knowledge, history and education led him to serve on the Cook County School Board, Grand Marais Library Board, Arrowhead Library Board, and the Cook County Historical Society Board. He was also a member of the National Education Society and the Minnesota Library Association.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Bernhard; his wife, Louise; two sons, Hans and Karl; sister Esther; half-brother Gunter; stepdaughter Pam; and brother and sister-in-law, Rudolph and Eva Marti.
He is survived by four of his children, Fritz, Heidi, Chris, and Kurt; stepchildren, Karen and Tara, and their mother Lennie Hystad; grandchildren, Kari, Jada, Jessica, Kyle, Briza, Greg, Lenna, Silas and Elias; great-grandchildren, Finn, Braden, Journey and Saya; nieces, Marie, Julie, Mary Beth, and Gretchen; nephews, Rudy and Leonard.
Leonard is also survived by his beloved dog, Ella.
Please honor Leonard’s memory by donating to:
Arrowhead Animal Shelter (building fund)
PO Box 1274, Grand Marais MN 55604
Or Go Dog North Shore at www.godognorthshore.org/donate
A gathering in Celebration of Leonard’s life will be held in the summer of 2023.
Leave a Reply