Leo Arthur Odendahl, 87 of Arnold, died peacefully surrounded by family Sunday March 29, 2026. He was born on August 23, 1938, in Pine City, MN to Felix and Edna (Hawkins) Odendahl. In 1945 the Odendahl family moved to a farm near Freeburg, MO.
Loving husband of Joan Odendahl (nee Leonard). Beloved father of Kurt (Judy) Odendahl, Diane (Doug) Rinck, Christine Brenner, Karen (Lee) Shackleford and the late Robert Kupferer Jr. Cherished grandfather of Adam, Andy (Emilie) Rinck, Maya and Olivia Odendahl, Jason and Regan Dill, great grandfather of Henry Leo Rinck. Our dear brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many.
Leo earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Missouri School of Mines. He began his career at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, where he worked as an engineer on the Gemini Spacecraft Program. He later spent the majority of his career with the Missouri State Highway Department as an inspector, contributing to numerous bridge and highway projects, including Highway 170 connecting Highways 270 and 40.
Leo was a skilled woodworker who took great pride in creating and sharing beautiful furniture, decorative pieces, children’s toys, and handcrafted wood and acrylic pens. His work reflected both his craftsmanship and his generosity.
He had a servant’s heart and found joy in helping others. Leo volunteered with several organizations over the years, including at St. Kevin’s Church in St. Ann, St. David Church in Arnold, and most recently at Holy Family Parish, where he was especially active with St. Vincent de Paul. He was also well known for his delicious, creatively themed cookies, which he baked each year for Vacation Bible School.
Leo cherished time spent in small gatherings with family and friends. He enjoyed word and math puzzles and never missed a chance to share his daily “Dad Joke,” bringing smiles to those around him.
Leo will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.
Services: Visitation at Kutis South County on Tue April 7, from 5-8PM.
Funeral from Kutis South County Chapel (5255 Lemay Ferry) on Wednesday, April 8th 10:30AM for 11AM Mass at Mary Mother of the Church (Kerth Rd.).
In lieu of flowers donations to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul (Holy Family Parish, 2300 Church Rd. Arnold, MO 63010) appreciated.
I’m so very sorry for your loss Joan and family. Leo was a great man and will be greatly missed. Prayers for peace for all of you. ❤️
Dear Joan and Family,
Every time we talk to someone about Leo, they recall a gift that he made for them personally or for their organization. Others remember the times that Leo assisted with a project. Our family received wooden block sets, furniture pieces, crosses, and pens. Leo brought over fresh vegetables, corned beef and cabbage, and stuffing for Thanksgiving Dinner. Then there were wooden pieces made several summers to decorate the gym for Vacation Bible School and hundreds of cookies shaped to match the themes of VBS each year. Leo even shoveled snow off our driveway. The list is endless. Please feel free to add yours.
Joan, you and Leo are treasures in our lives.
Dear Joan,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Leo was a great co-worker and friend.
He was a delight to work with, and he shared his wood working talents with many of us. From wooden blocks, crosses and shelving units which we still have and use today. Prayers for you and the family.
Dear Kurt and Family,
Sad that you had to lose your dad and all he meant to all of you over the years. Losing a loved one is very difficult and I’m very sorry this had to happen and he is gone, but there is so much good to remember about him and all that he meant to everyone.
Alice Boedicker
I have been teaching Engineering to Boy Scouts now for about 13 years. When we started, one of the other Engineers brought with him a bridge that you assembled out of metal pieces. He allowed us to use it for about 2 years and then stopped. I was devastated because it was such a great learning tool. I contacted Leo and explained and gave him a rough drawing. At that time, I was just looking for ideas. Two days later, he had made a complete bridge kit out of oak wood. When I picked it up, there was about 26 parts. Leo said you will need something to transport that in. A day later I found on my front porch a beautiful box custom made for the bridge. Since we have received this, we are guessing that close to 1,000 youths have assembled this bridge. It is used twice a year for Boy Scout STEM. Several Engineers have borrowed for teaching at grade schools. In fact, Leo used it when he was teaching engineering, I believe at St. David. What a great gift that Leo has given. I’m sure the other night when I was working the bridge kit with the Boy Scouts, Leo was looking down and smiling.
My heart goes out to the entire family. I am so sorry for the loss of such a special person. When I met Mr. Odendahl I was probably 6 or 7 years old. That is why I still cannot call him Leo. It will always be Mr. Odendahl. 🙂
From those early years until I moved away for college, whenever I would visit Kurt or see Mr. Odendahl at a school or sporting event, what I remember most was how engaging he was. It was very different from other friends’ parents. He would ask how things were going, listened intently, and genuinely cared. He would spend time showing some of his crafts and talk about his many projects. I still have a vivid image of his workbench. It was all so interesting. I know he was very special to a lot of people for a lot of reasons and will be dearly missed.
With deepest sympathies,
Chris Boedicker
Leo was a man of integrity, generosity, and precision. Whether managing finances or crafting a piece of woodwork, he always had a sharpened pencil ready and the right questions to ask. He cared deeply about others to make sure things were done right, raising the bar for us all. I am grateful for the times I got to work alongside Leo and be challenged by him at St. David’s and in St. Vincent de Paul. He was a solid role model, and his presence will be deeply missed.
Leo made beautiful little wood crosses that were blessed by Father Bill from the former St. Anthony Hosp. We owned a deli and Joan and Leo would frequent our restaurant. Leo would keep our deli counter supplied with blessed crosses for our customers. Our customers would make comments on the beautiful crosses and I would distribute them to those that showed interest in them. One day, a lady came into the deli picking up food for her family who was meeting at St. Anthony Hosp to see her daughter, Megan, that had recently been involved in a car accident and was not expected to live. I asked the lady if I could give her a cross and asked her to place it Megan’s hand and to pray with her. When she got to the hospital Megan’s husband had also been given a cross by Father Bill that was identical to the one I gave her. They placed one in her hand and one at her side and prayed for her healing. About three month later the lady came back in to the deli to tell me her story and say thank you to us for sharing the beautiful cross. Joan and Leo just happen to be dining at the same time and were joyfully introduced to one another. Then about 1 month later, Megan and her Mother came into the deli in celebration of her recovery. Megan was still on crutches but was doing well. The doctors could not understand her recovery but we knew it was the power of Jesus and His divine healing through prayer and the wood crosses. We look several pictures in celebration. I feel so blessed to have experienced this miracle of the little wooden crosses made with Leo’s love. We will miss you. Glen and Dana
Joan and family,
I have never met a man like Leo. He would give of his talents to help anyone. Sometimes all he needed was an idea and then off he went designing, cutting, sanding, staining until a masterful project was completed. I am honored that we have been his neighbor and friends for over 30 years. He touched our entire family. He will be missed, but his memory will be with us forever.
I remember when Joan & Leo started their friendship & they would come to Prayer Group. I thought “What a nice man he was”. I attended their wedding and again thought how wonderful it was how God brought these two together. Thru the years he was so generous with little bags of tomatoes & peppers for many of us. I thank you Leo, yes we will miss you.
Dear Olivia,
We are so very sorry for your loss, and sending prayers of comfort and peace to you and your family during this time.
Your friends at Zeno and Chick-fil-A Pod 4