Fr. Richard “Dick” John Leffler died on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the age of 74. 

Father Leffler was born on November 8, 1951, in Dodgeville, Wis., to Raymond and Margaret (Mulcahy) Leffler as the third of seven children. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as by his sister, Alice Leffler, and his brother, Gene Leffler. 

He is survived by his sister Jane Clay (David) of Pflugerville, Texas; his brothers, William Bauer-Leffler (Ann) of Platteville, Wis., Donald Leffler (Melanie) of Dodgeville, Wis., and Michael Leffler of Boscobel, Wis.; as well as by many nieces and nephews and their children.

Father Leffler grew up in Dodgeville, where he attended St. Joseph School and Dodgeville High School. 

Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Edgewood College in Madison. 

For seminary, he attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wis., where he completed his philosophical and theological studies in preparation for the sacred priesthood. 

He was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Madison on May 26, 1978, at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Madison by Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell of Madison.

Following his ordination to the priesthood, Father Leffler held the following assignments in the Diocese of Madison as a parochial vicar (associate): St. Luke in Plain with the accompanying mission of St. Patrick in Loreto (1978-1981), St. Victor in Monroe (1981-1988), St. Mary in Portage (1988-1991), St. Albert the Great in Sun Prairie (1991-1993), and St. John the Baptist in Waunakee (1993-1995). 

In 1995, Father Leffler was appointed Pastor of Ss. Andrew and Thomas in Tennyson and Potosi, where he served until his retirement in the summer of 2023.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church (St. Pius of Pietrelcina Parish), 305 E. Walnut St., Dodgeville, on Monday, Aug.10, 2026, at 11 a.m., with a visitation immediately prior beginning at 9 a.m. 

Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison will celebrate the Funeral Mass, with Fr. John Meinholz serving as the homilist. 

Burial will immediately follow Mass in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Dodgeville.

An additional period of visitation will be held at St. Joseph Church in Dodgeville on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Gorgen Funeral Services, Dodgeville, is assisting the family. More information can be found at gorgenfh.com/obituaries/the-reverend-father-richard-leffler