LeOtia Flage
LeOtia “Lee” E. Flage, 88, of rural Waukon died Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 19 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church.
Burial will be held at a later date at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Memorials may be directed to Good Samaritan Society or Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
LeOtia “Lee” Edna Flage was born January 31, 1934 in French Creek Township, rural Lansing, the daughter of Walter and Selma (Ashbacher) Ebner. She was baptized, confirmed and later married at French Creek Methodist Church. After graduating from Waukon High School, LeOtia was the school secretary before moving to the big city of Chicago, IL with some friends for a year to work.
She returned to northeast Iowa and met Kenneth Charles Flage at a hayride; they married June 15, 1955 and moved to La Crosse, WI briefly. They came back to rural Waukon to farm in Jefferson Township before moving to the Flage family farm in Ludlow Township in 1981; LeOtia’s job was to take care of the cows, calves and pigs. She also worked at Good Samaritan Society as a CNA for over 20 years, retiring in 2006.
As a member of First Presbyterian Church, LeOtia served as the church secretary, taught Sunday school, and was involved with the various circles and committees. She enjoyed being outside, particularly in her gardens with the flowers, and mowing the lawn frequently to keep up with her neighbors. LeOtia loved watching and feeding the birds and her nurturing side couldn’t be suppressed enough to keep her from feeding the bunnies and squirrels too, even though she detested their presence in her yard.
She enjoyed playing cards, bowling and taking deer hunting trips to Wyoming with Kenny for several years. An avid reader, LeOtia loved mystery novels and also liked watching COPS and Judge Judy. Mostly, “Old Mama” loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and reach their achievements. She always entertained and had all the holiday meals in her home. Her island counter was always a favorite place for anyone stopping in, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as it was always full of homemade goodies and treats.
LeOtia is survived by her three daughters: Cindy (Lyle) Leikvold of Waukon, Linda (Bob) Lawrence of Stewartville, MN and Pam (Jeff) Christianson of Waukon; her grandchildren: Kerri (Chris) Gibbs, Todd (Brianne) Leikvold, Brittany Lawrence and Daniel (Emily) Lawrence; her great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Kiersten and Kendra Gibbs, Gannon, Kellen, Piper and Irelynn Leikvold, and Theo Lawrence; two sisters-in-law, Mary Erickson and Karen Flage; and her nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenny, in 2006; her brother, Lewis (Clara) Ebner; her sister, Johanna (Ralph) McKee; and two brothers-in-law, Louis Erickson and Dr. L. John Flage.
Honorary urnbearers are LeOtia’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
