Darlene Leas
Darlene Leas, 95, of Waukon died Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Private family funeral services will be held Thursday, October 7. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in rural Waukon. Social distancing and masks are encouraged. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Lyndall Darlene Leas was born November 13, 1925 in rural Monona, the daughter of Ray and Hazel (Frink) Rush. She went by her middle name, Darlene. She was baptized and confirmed at Rossville Presbyterian Church in Rossville. Darlene attended Jefferson #7 country school and graduated from Waukon High School in 1945, taking normal training. She taught for six years in rural country schools in the area. When she was younger, she helped her father with many of the chores on the farm, milking cows by hand, planting the crops and helping with the harvest.
May 21, 1947, Darlene was united in marriage with Neil Leas at Rossville Presbyterian Church. This was the first marriage in the church in 54 years. They farmed together with Neil’s parents for ten years in Linton Township, before buying her parents’ farm in Jefferson Township in rural Rossville. She also worked at the Iowa Turkey Plant in Postville for 25 years.
Darlene was a member of Rossville Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder, was president of the ladies’ groups, was treasurer for the church for 39 years, and was the janitor for several years. She was also a member and held many offices in the neighborhood card club, Golden Girls, and the Rossville Senior card club.
Darlene enjoyed playing cards, listening to the radio, watching TV and embroidering pillow cases and dish towels. She raised a big garden and canned vegetables and fruit. Darlene always took the time to visit family and friends who were in the nursing home, sending letters and cards on the holidays and for birthdays.
Survivors include her son, David Leas of Waukon; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Beardmore and Lucille Palmer; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, who died in 2003; a son, James, who died in 2009; two sisters, Ruth (Clarence) Brandsmeier and Leona (Arthur) Troester; three brothers-in-law, Leonard Beardmore, Merton Palmer and Dale (Bernadine) Leas.
Casketbearers are Allan Troester, Fred Klatt, Bernard Brandsmeier, Jake Sweeney, Brad Freilinger, Larry Ashbacher and Matt Deal. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
