80, of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away on April 25, 2019, at Bethesda Southgate where he resided for the past year and a half.
He was born to parents Matthew and Lillian (Reiter) Leibrecht, on March 31, 1939. After attending Eugene Coyle High School, he served 4 years in the Air Force, where he obtained training in photography. He married Halene Bryson in 1959 and they returned to St. Louis upon leaving the military. Shortly thereafter, he was hired as an Offset Photographer at Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center (DMAAC) where he worked for 35 years. After retiring from DMAAC, he held several part-time jobs, the most recent serving as a volunteer greeter at Bethesda Southgate where he won the hearts of many staff, residents and visitors.
Don loved many sports, but his greatest passion was following the St. Louis Cardinals. This love of baseball was cemented by an experience he had as a member of the first Knothole Gang when he saw the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, hit his last homer at Sportsman’s Park.
He is survived by Halene Barber, his wife of 36 years; his sister Carol Hallahan; his brother Robert (Julie) Leibrecht; his daughter Debra (Terry Musil) Biggs; his sons David, Paul (Kim) and Philip (Dee) Leibrecht; 8 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
Services: Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois. Funeral Service Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Contributions to the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, Inc. or Bethesda Hospice Care are appreciated.
