Leo Roy Hemelt Sr.

May 2, 1929 - December 23, 2020

Leo Hemelt Sr, age 91, was surrounded by family at his Covington home when he passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Born and raised in New Orleans, Leo graduated from Delgado Central Trades School and went on to become a licensed electrician, working for Boudreaux Electric, then as a superintendent at Foley Electric. He was a longstanding member of the Local 130 IBEW (electrical union) and worked on projects including the Superdome, New Orleans hospitals, and numerous industrial facilities. In his down time, he enjoyed fishing trips with family and friends at the camp he built in Hopedale, LA. Upon retirement over 30 years ago, Leo settled in Covington and began traveling the world from Alaska to Australia with his beloved wife, the late Eligious “Lee” Hemelt. He was also preceded in death by parents, Ervin Hemelt Sr. and Irene Donnell Hemelt, his baby girl, Phyllis Hemelt, his grandson, Nicholas Hemelt, and his brother, Ervin Hemelt Jr. He is survived by his children, Leo R. Hemelt Jr. (Peggy), Dennis Hemelt, Eligious “Elly” Wunsch (Gary), Ronald Hemelt Sr. (Barbara), and Rhonda Aubert (Chris). He was Paw-Paw to eighteen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren, and will surely be missed by his many backyard squirrels, birds and turtles. Leo will be remembered as a devoted family man who loved telling a joke to make a stranger smile or watch a child light up when gifted a Mardi Gras bead, reminding us to seek moments of joy in the smallest ways. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W 21st Ave, Covington, LA 70433 on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow the services in Saint Joseph Abbey Cemetery. With COVID-19, restrictions social distancing and face mask are required to attend services. The Hemelt family invites you to share thoughts, fond memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.