Leonard R. Salzman

Leonard R. "Lenny" Salzman, 79, Wausau died Monday, December 15, 2014 under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at the family farm in Wausau. He was born November 4, 1935 in Wausau, son of the late Joseph and Mary (Niziolek) Salzman. On September 10, 1960 he married Alice "Allie" Wanke at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens. She preceded him in death on May 4, 2004. He then married Nancy Schuster on September 19, 2009 at St. Mary Roman Catholic Oratory, Wausau. She survives. Lenny embarked on his lifelong endeavors at the age of 14 when he moved to the family farm in the town Weston, Wisc. He worked with his father, Joe, buying and selling horses, a passion that remained with him throughout his entire life. As a young man he began a riding stable business which attracted Alice whom he later married and began a family with. After becoming the 1st truck driver for Greenheck Fan, Lenny started his lifelong travels which took him throughout the country from New York to Oregon, Minnesota to Florida. He became friends with many people along the way. Shortly after that he started a small dump truck business which became Hot Mix, a paving company he worked with his brother Jim. Along the way, meeting more friends, he found his way into the Rail Road Salvage business throughout Minnesota and the upper penninsula. Increasing his truck size to Semis and teaching his sons along the way, Salzman Trucking, now run by his son Tom, still operates as an interstate freight hauler. Annually like the changing seasons, when trucking slowed snow plowing began, one could hear him sing "the more snow the more dough". He ended each year for the past 40 years selling Christmas trees on the corner of Kent St and Grand Ave. Lenny's days took him on many adventures, there was always work to do, the phone always rang, with some job to keep the equipment working. He also enjoyed the outdoors and open space, traveling to Montana many times for elk hunting and gold prospecting on the Garnet Range. Other travels included Switzerland to visit his roots, Ireland with his friend Joe and with his current wife Nancy he traveled to the Vatican and other locations around Europe. Home was where his passion laid, Leonard and Alice's farm. There, with his faith in God, he raised horses, cows, hogs, dogs, cats and kids. He gave of himself to the Catholic Church and his community. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. Lenny enjoyed taking his horses or mules to town where he pulled a few Mayors in parades with his mule drawn buggy. He also enjoyed bringing his horses to the Logjam, on hay rides for the Weston Fest or to camp for the day, giving rides to children. Survivors include his wife Nancy Salzman, Wausau, his children, Marie Salzman, Kenosha, Karen Hass, Wausau, John (Evelyn) Salzman, Wausau, Anthony (Sandy) Salzman, Hatley, Thomas Salzman, Wausau, Patricia Salzman, Aniwa, three step children, Noreen Salzman, Wausau, Richard (Carol) Salzman, Wausau, Connie Rosenau, Aniwa, three grandchildren, Steven, Shannon and Shelby Salzman, three step grandchildren, Ryan (Gina) Salzman and Amanda and Jessica Rosenau and three step great grandchildren, Skylar, Shayna and Devlin Amundson. Lenny is further survived by his siblings, Lawrence (Mary) Salzman, Medford, Rose ( Norbert) Henrichs, Minocqua, Louise Williams, Wausau, Lucille (Richard) Bousley, Townsend, Mary Kay (Jim) Smith, Wausau, Pearl (Jim) Stoltzman, Wausau, Esther Salzman, Wausau and Jim (Sandy) Salzman, Ringle and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and first wife Allie Salzman he was preceded in death by one son, Mark Salzman, and infant son, Matthew Salzman, and his siblings, Marvin and Arnold Salzman and Josephine Breit and Dolores Salzman. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 20, 2014 at St. Mary Roman Catholic Oratory, Wausau. Friends may call on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau and again on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. There will be a parish rosary service at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at the Sixth Street funeral home. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Lenny's name. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com