William Marvin "Bill" Leonard
March 20, 1927 ~ May 9, 2009
William M. "Bill" Leonard., age 82, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 09, 2009, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove.
Service were held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein. Burial was at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with Military Rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225.
A lifelong resident of northern Ida County was called home Saturday, May 9, when William M. (Bill) Leonard, 82, passed away.
Mr. Leonard was born March 20, 1927, in the family home on their farm north of Holstein, Iowa, to Hiram J. and Christina D. (Schroeder) Leonard. He was the youngest of a large, prominent family, with seven older brothers and two older sisters. He lost both his parents as a boy in 1936 and as a result young Billy learned early on to be independent, resourceful, and tough.
Baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Holstein, he attended country school and graduated from Holstein High School in 1944. Mr. Leonard served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 34th Infantry Regiment and in the Military Police while stationed in Kyoto, Japan.
He was married Dec. 18, 1949, to Gloria Mae Hoops of Galva, Iowa. They lived on three farms during their 59-year marriage and one of the happiest days of their full lives together was Sept. 25, 1963, when they purchased the Lage Estate north of Holstein. It was an auction that drew 5,000 bidders and visitors and newspaper articles record that "there had never been anything like it, probably never would be again." After living there for 45 years, his final day on his farm was spent checking the newborn calves and looking over the new plantings of 200 shrubs and trees, a gift from his children. Mr. Leonard was proud of his hometown heritage and liked to say that he lived his whole life within 8 miles of the house where he was born, excepting only for the time he served his country overseas in 1946-47.
To this union were born three children: Billee Leonard Madsen, Mark W. Leonard, and Lori Leonard Morgan. He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife and children, seven grandchildren, nine great-children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, four grandsons-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.
He met with success in his lifelong vocation of farming and ranching, over the years raising row crops, hay, Saddlebred and quarter horses, Yorkshire hogs, commercial beef cattle, and purebred Limousin breeding cattle. A professional milestone came in 1978 when he acquired an ownership interest in Sooner Jr., the highest-selling bull in the history of the Limousin breed.
He was a lifetime member of the North American Limousin Foundation, active in the Farm Bureau, president of Co-op Inc., a Boy Scout leader, president and trustee of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, president of the Holstein Cemetery Board, a life member of the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post 225, and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Leonard and his wife met at a dance in 1948 and especially enjoyed dancing to the Big Band music of the era during their courtship and for many decades thereafter. They belonged to a card club who for 60 years gathered together monthly to play 500. The men were all farmers and lifelong friends and as each married during the 1940s and 1950s they brought their brides into the club. All became the greatest of friends and while now three members of the club have passed away, they will always cherish their many years together as "the card gang."
Mr. Leonard was a man who believed in honor above all. He was a student of political trends, a staunch Republican, and a devoted family man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his grandparents Ransom and Mary Josephine Leonard, and Charles F. and Carolena Schroeder; his parents; five brothers, Abraham J., H. Arnold, Jesse H., Elvin E., and Ransom C., and one sister, Viola C. Sinns.
He is survived by the love of his life, Gloria; children Billee and husband Reas Madsen; Mark and wife Sheryl; and Lori and husband Randall Morgan; grandchildren Jennifer Mochwart, Amanda (Scott) Vanis, Emily (Marc) Melody, Erin (Raen)Schechinger, Ember (Ross) Muhlbauer, Denae Leonard, and Austin Leonard; great-grandchildren Abigail, Emma Jane, Caroline, Jacob, twins David and Daniel, Iris, Josephine, and Olivia; two brothers Maurice O. and George W., and sister Mary J. Conover.
March 20, 1927 ~ May 9, 2009
William M. "Bill" Leonard., age 82, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 09, 2009, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove.
Service were held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein. Burial was at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with Military Rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225.
A lifelong resident of northern Ida County was called home Saturday, May 9, when William M. (Bill) Leonard, 82, passed away.
Mr. Leonard was born March 20, 1927, in the family home on their farm north of Holstein, Iowa, to Hiram J. and Christina D. (Schroeder) Leonard. He was the youngest of a large, prominent family, with seven older brothers and two older sisters. He lost both his parents as a boy in 1936 and as a result young Billy learned early on to be independent, resourceful, and tough.
Baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Holstein, he attended country school and graduated from Holstein High School in 1944. Mr. Leonard served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 34th Infantry Regiment and in the Military Police while stationed in Kyoto, Japan.
He was married Dec. 18, 1949, to Gloria Mae Hoops of Galva, Iowa. They lived on three farms during their 59-year marriage and one of the happiest days of their full lives together was Sept. 25, 1963, when they purchased the Lage Estate north of Holstein. It was an auction that drew 5,000 bidders and visitors and newspaper articles record that "there had never been anything like it, probably never would be again." After living there for 45 years, his final day on his farm was spent checking the newborn calves and looking over the new plantings of 200 shrubs and trees, a gift from his children. Mr. Leonard was proud of his hometown heritage and liked to say that he lived his whole life within 8 miles of the house where he was born, excepting only for the time he served his country overseas in 1946-47.
To this union were born three children: Billee Leonard Madsen, Mark W. Leonard, and Lori Leonard Morgan. He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife and children, seven grandchildren, nine great-children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, four grandsons-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.
He met with success in his lifelong vocation of farming and ranching, over the years raising row crops, hay, Saddlebred and quarter horses, Yorkshire hogs, commercial beef cattle, and purebred Limousin breeding cattle. A professional milestone came in 1978 when he acquired an ownership interest in Sooner Jr., the highest-selling bull in the history of the Limousin breed.
He was a lifetime member of the North American Limousin Foundation, active in the Farm Bureau, president of Co-op Inc., a Boy Scout leader, president and trustee of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, president of the Holstein Cemetery Board, a life member of the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post 225, and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Leonard and his wife met at a dance in 1948 and especially enjoyed dancing to the Big Band music of the era during their courtship and for many decades thereafter. They belonged to a card club who for 60 years gathered together monthly to play 500. The men were all farmers and lifelong friends and as each married during the 1940s and 1950s they brought their brides into the club. All became the greatest of friends and while now three members of the club have passed away, they will always cherish their many years together as "the card gang."
Mr. Leonard was a man who believed in honor above all. He was a student of political trends, a staunch Republican, and a devoted family man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his grandparents Ransom and Mary Josephine Leonard, and Charles F. and Carolena Schroeder; his parents; five brothers, Abraham J., H. Arnold, Jesse H., Elvin E., and Ransom C., and one sister, Viola C. Sinns.
He is survived by the love of his life, Gloria; children Billee and husband Reas Madsen; Mark and wife Sheryl; and Lori and husband Randall Morgan; grandchildren Jennifer Mochwart, Amanda (Scott) Vanis, Emily (Marc) Melody, Erin (Raen)Schechinger, Ember (Ross) Muhlbauer, Denae Leonard, and Austin Leonard; great-grandchildren Abigail, Emma Jane, Caroline, Jacob, twins David and Daniel, Iris, Josephine, and Olivia; two brothers Maurice O. and George W., and sister Mary J. Conover.
William Marvin "Bill" Leonard
March 20, 1927 ~ May 9, 2009
William M. "Bill" Leonard., age 82, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 09, 2009, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove.
Service were held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein. Burial was at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with Military Rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225.
A lifelong resident of northern Ida County was called home Saturday, May 9, when William M. (Bill) Leonard, 82, passed away.
Mr. Leonard was born March 20, 1927, in the family home on their farm north of Holstein, Iowa, to Hiram J. and Christina D. (Schroeder) Leonard. He was the youngest of a large, prominent family, with seven older brothers and two older sisters. He lost both his parents as a boy in 1936 and as a result young Billy learned early on to be independent, resourceful, and tough.
Baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Holstein, he attended country school and graduated from Holstein High School in 1944. Mr. Leonard served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 34th Infantry Regiment and in the Military Police while stationed in Kyoto, Japan.
He was married Dec. 18, 1949, to Gloria Mae Hoops of Galva, Iowa. They lived on three farms during their 59-year marriage and one of the happiest days of their full lives together was Sept. 25, 1963, when they purchased the Lage Estate north of Holstein. It was an auction that drew 5,000 bidders and visitors and newspaper articles record that "there had never been anything like it, probably never would be again." After living there for 45 years, his final day on his farm was spent checking the newborn calves and looking over the new plantings of 200 shrubs and trees, a gift from his children. Mr. Leonard was proud of his hometown heritage and liked to say that he lived his whole life within 8 miles of the house where he was born, excepting only for the time he served his country overseas in 1946-47.
To this union were born three children: Billee Leonard Madsen, Mark W. Leonard, and Lori Leonard Morgan. He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife and children, seven grandchildren, nine great-children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, four grandsons-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.
He met with success in his lifelong vocation of farming and ranching, over the years raising row crops, hay, Saddlebred and quarter horses, Yorkshire hogs, commercial beef cattle, and purebred Limousin breeding cattle. A professional milestone came in 1978 when he acquired an ownership interest in Sooner Jr., the highest-selling bull in the history of the Limousin breed.
He was a lifetime member of the North American Limousin Foundation, active in the Farm Bureau, president of Co-op Inc., a Boy Scout leader, president and trustee of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, president of the Holstein Cemetery Board, a life member of the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post 225, and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Leonard and his wife met at a dance in 1948 and especially enjoyed dancing to the Big Band music of the era during their courtship and for many decades thereafter. They belonged to a card club who for 60 years gathered together monthly to play 500. The men were all farmers and lifelong friends and as each married during the 1940s and 1950s they brought their brides into the club. All became the greatest of friends and while now three members of the club have passed away, they will always cherish their many years together as "the card gang."
Mr. Leonard was a man who believed in honor above all. He was a student of political trends, a staunch Republican, and a devoted family man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his grandparents Ransom and Mary Josephine Leonard, and Charles F. and Carolena Schroeder; his parents; five brothers, Abraham J., H. Arnold, Jesse H., Elvin E., and Ransom C., and one sister, Viola C. Sinns.
He is survived by the love of his life, Gloria; children Billee and husband Reas Madsen; Mark and wife Sheryl; and Lori and husband Randall Morgan; grandchildren Jennifer Mochwart, Amanda (Scott) Vanis, Emily (Marc) Melody, Erin (Raen)Schechinger, Ember (Ross) Muhlbauer, Denae Leonard, and Austin Leonard; great-grandchildren Abigail, Emma Jane, Caroline, Jacob, twins David and Daniel, Iris, Josephine, and Olivia; two brothers Maurice O. and George W., and sister Mary J. Conover.
March 20, 1927 ~ May 9, 2009
William M. "Bill" Leonard., age 82, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 09, 2009, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove.
Service were held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein. Burial was at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with Military Rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225.
A lifelong resident of northern Ida County was called home Saturday, May 9, when William M. (Bill) Leonard, 82, passed away.
Mr. Leonard was born March 20, 1927, in the family home on their farm north of Holstein, Iowa, to Hiram J. and Christina D. (Schroeder) Leonard. He was the youngest of a large, prominent family, with seven older brothers and two older sisters. He lost both his parents as a boy in 1936 and as a result young Billy learned early on to be independent, resourceful, and tough.
Baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Holstein, he attended country school and graduated from Holstein High School in 1944. Mr. Leonard served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 34th Infantry Regiment and in the Military Police while stationed in Kyoto, Japan.
He was married Dec. 18, 1949, to Gloria Mae Hoops of Galva, Iowa. They lived on three farms during their 59-year marriage and one of the happiest days of their full lives together was Sept. 25, 1963, when they purchased the Lage Estate north of Holstein. It was an auction that drew 5,000 bidders and visitors and newspaper articles record that "there had never been anything like it, probably never would be again." After living there for 45 years, his final day on his farm was spent checking the newborn calves and looking over the new plantings of 200 shrubs and trees, a gift from his children. Mr. Leonard was proud of his hometown heritage and liked to say that he lived his whole life within 8 miles of the house where he was born, excepting only for the time he served his country overseas in 1946-47.
To this union were born three children: Billee Leonard Madsen, Mark W. Leonard, and Lori Leonard Morgan. He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife and children, seven grandchildren, nine great-children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, four grandsons-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.
He met with success in his lifelong vocation of farming and ranching, over the years raising row crops, hay, Saddlebred and quarter horses, Yorkshire hogs, commercial beef cattle, and purebred Limousin breeding cattle. A professional milestone came in 1978 when he acquired an ownership interest in Sooner Jr., the highest-selling bull in the history of the Limousin breed.
He was a lifetime member of the North American Limousin Foundation, active in the Farm Bureau, president of Co-op Inc., a Boy Scout leader, president and trustee of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, president of the Holstein Cemetery Board, a life member of the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post 225, and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Leonard and his wife met at a dance in 1948 and especially enjoyed dancing to the Big Band music of the era during their courtship and for many decades thereafter. They belonged to a card club who for 60 years gathered together monthly to play 500. The men were all farmers and lifelong friends and as each married during the 1940s and 1950s they brought their brides into the club. All became the greatest of friends and while now three members of the club have passed away, they will always cherish their many years together as "the card gang."
Mr. Leonard was a man who believed in honor above all. He was a student of political trends, a staunch Republican, and a devoted family man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his grandparents Ransom and Mary Josephine Leonard, and Charles F. and Carolena Schroeder; his parents; five brothers, Abraham J., H. Arnold, Jesse H., Elvin E., and Ransom C., and one sister, Viola C. Sinns.
He is survived by the love of his life, Gloria; children Billee and husband Reas Madsen; Mark and wife Sheryl; and Lori and husband Randall Morgan; grandchildren Jennifer Mochwart, Amanda (Scott) Vanis, Emily (Marc) Melody, Erin (Raen)Schechinger, Ember (Ross) Muhlbauer, Denae Leonard, and Austin Leonard; great-grandchildren Abigail, Emma Jane, Caroline, Jacob, twins David and Daniel, Iris, Josephine, and Olivia; two brothers Maurice O. and George W., and sister Mary J. Conover.
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