Leonard Vavra was known as “Crazy Leonard.”
Not just because he started his running hobby in his late 40s, back in the days when nobody went out and just ran.
Not just because he continued running as an old man, no matter what — even when his knee gave him agony.
And it wasn't because he managed to be cheerful after his leg was amputated, ending his running days.
Other runners called Vavra “Crazy Leonard” because of the way he hooted and yelled when he ran.
It took a lot to keep Vavra down. A stroke ended up taking his life Wednesday, his wife, Delphine, said. He was 82.
Vavra's hooting, hollering and cheerfulness endeared him to many fellow runners. He was inducted into the Omaha Running Club Hall of Fame in 2007.
He ran 97 marathons and made it to 100 with the help of relay teams that pushed him in a special wheelchair after the amputation.
Vavra knew the power of enthusiasm, especially when complications developed after knee-replacement surgery at age 76. The complications nearly killed Vavra and led to the amputation.
“Enthusiasm is like a fire on a windy day,” he said at the time. “Life can be awfully low if you don't have some enthusiasm.”
Vavra knew he wasn't the fastest person. “I'm not a very important runner, never was,” he said. “I have some enthusiasm. That's how anybody knows me.”
He always was a hard worker, never a quitter, his wife said. At times Vavra worked two jobs to support his six children.
The native Nebraskan was born in Sargent and raised in Ord. He joined the Army right after high school, during World War II, and later served in the Korean War. He returned to Nebraska, moved to Omaha and was married.
The warehouse worker one day began running, ditching his heavy smoking habit. His dog, a Weimaraner named Blue, would tag along.
Delphine, Vavra's wife of nearly 60 years, let him indulge in his running passion, saying he could have had worse pastimes.
Their children are Debra Ritter of Council Bluffs, David Vavra of Anthem, Ariz., and Douglas Vavra, Dee Elsberry, Don Vavra and Dionne Webber, all of Omaha.
They pushed their father's wheelchair past the finish line at his 100th marathon in Omaha, in 2007.
Other survivors include 11 grandchildren and a brother, Frank Vavra of Omaha.
A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 654 S. 86th St. A wake will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Westlawn Hillcrest Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5701 Center St.
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402-444-1304, news@owh.com
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