Leonard Otto Steichen, 96, died Jan. 2, 2019, at his home in rural Woonsocket.

His funeral was held Monday, Jan. 7, at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket. Visitations were held Sunday, Jan. 6, at the church, with a Rosary and scripture service. Burial was in the church cemetery with Fr. Jim Friedrich officiating.

Leonard was born Nov. 14, 1922, to Nicholas and Frances (Schmidt) Steichen on the same family farm where he lived and farmed nearly all his life. He had five brothers, Carl, Bernard, Edward, Harry, and Tom Steichen, and one sister, Margaret Irving.

He married Donna Rodee, of Garden City, on June 8, 1951, in Woonsocket. They had nine children, Steven of Mitchell, Brad (Lynda) of Woonsocket, Jalene (Rick) Martin of Ridgecrest, Calif., Tim (Deborah) of Watertown, Kandy (Bruce) Schmiedt of Woonsocket, Lenna (David) Schreiner of Tripp, Trent (Nadine) of Ridgecrest, Calif., Jennifer (Jonathon) Davis of Annapolis, Md., and Lynette (Rex) Geyer of Manchester.

Except for two years when Leonard worked in aircraft plants in Omaha, Neb., and Buffalo, N.Y., in the 1940s, he was a lifelong farmer. He actively worked until his late 80s and proudly farmed the land homesteaded by his grandfather in 1881. He was a lifelong member of St. Wilfrid Catholic Church.

Leonard is survived by all his children; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Betty Steichen of Albuquerque, N.M., and Daun Whetsel of Mitchell; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna in 2008; his parents; all of his brothers and sisters, including an infant sister, Lucy.