Obituary of Leonard Tobeck

Leonard Frank Tobeck, age 90, was called to the Lord on August 11, 2007 in a local care facility. Leonard was born in Albee, South Dakota on November 1, 1916. In 1922, when he was six years old, his family moved to Greeley, Minnesota where they owned and operated Fred Tobeck and Sons Fairway Fine Foods next to the Land of Lakes Creamery. During World War II, Leonard worked at Fort Snelling in Minnesota. His family moved to California in 1948, living first in Pomona, later in Santa Monica, and finally settling in Lodi, CA. In 1949 Leonard attended Moeller's Barber College in Southern California. Immediately after graduation, he began working as a barber in Hollywood, CA and had the opportunity to cut the hair of celebrities including Bing Crosby and Larry Hagman. Later, he co-owned and operated barbershops in Pomona, CA and Lincoln Center in Stockton, CA. In 1953 he opened and operated the Lincoln Way Barbershop in Galt, CA until his retirement in 1978. He was also, for many years, an agent for Lutheran Mutual Life Insurance Company in the Lodi and Galt area. Leonard met the love of his life, Evelyn Tobeck, at Izaty's Resort at Mille Lacs Lake, MN. They married on November 2, 1950 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Lodi, CA. They lived in Galt for 38 years where together they raised three sons. They were members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Galt, CA where Leonard was on the church council and served as a deacon. In 1990 they moved to Lodi and joined St. Paul Lutheran Church. An avid bowler, Leonard was the first to bowl a 700 plus series at the Tokay Bowl in Lodi in the early 1960's. He loved fishing and hunting, sharing these passions with his three sons. He enjoyed baseball and had played on semi-pro teams during his youth in Minnesota. He was a member of the Lodi Dakota Club. He played the accordion for many years with a local group of musicians and singers known as Len's Band. Together they played "the old tunes" for patients at local convalescent and retirement homes. Preceding him in death were Leonard's parents, Fred and Bertha Tobeck, his wife Evelyn, and brothers Walter, Ervin, and Harry Tobeck. He is survived by many loving family members including: brother Orval Tobeck and wife Lucille of Escalon, CA, sister Marcella Wilson of Lincoln, CA, sons Ron Tobeck and wife Liz of Woodbridge, CA, Brad Tobeck of Elk Grove, CA, and Kevin Tobeck and wife Louise of Tracy, CA, and grandchildren Meghann Cazale and husband Mike of Stockton, CA, Brian Arnold of Reno, NV, Maxwell and Nicholas Tobeck of Tracy, CA, and nieces and nephews. Leonard was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Thursday, August 16 at 10:00 a.m. with a reception immediately following in Morton Hall. Memorials to Leonard may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 701 S. Pleasant Ave., Lodi, CA. There is no visitation and committal is private.