Edwin Leiran

Edwin “Ed” T. Leiran, 87, of Waukon, died Monday, January 6, 2014 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, January 10 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military honors was in the church cemetery.
Edwin Thomas Leiran was born August 10, 1926 in Waukon, the son of Martin and Inga (Brenden) Leiran. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Ed attended the rural Fan School. He started farming in the Crookston, MN area, where he met June Landro. The couple married  March 4, 1945 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Shortly after getting married, Ed entered the United States Army and saw action in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Ed was honorably discharged in October 1946, and returned home to Waukon. Ed was a jack-of-all-trades: farming, owning a trucking company that hauled milk and grain, running Eddie’s 66 gas station, working as a mechanic for John Deere and later for his son, Tom, at Leiran Auto Repair, and a father of nine children.
He was a member of the American Legion. Ed enjoyed playing cards, gathering candy at parades with his grandkids and sitting and talking with people. He loved to fish and took trips to Canada, and since he liked motorcycles, also took trips to Sturgis, SD and the Black Hills. Ed will be remembered for always looking after his family and putting them first.
Ed is survived by six sons, Gary (Caryl) of Postville,  Tom (Bev), Rick, Jeff (Bernita Kessel), Larre (Brenda), and Jon, all of Waukon; three daughters, Sandy (Hank Sass) Hesse of Waukon, Vicki (Roger) Gamm of West Union, and Mikki (Ed Anton) Bachtell of Loveland, OH; 43 grandchildren; 76 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Gene Roquet of Ada, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, June, in 1993; two brothers, Helmer “Marlin” and Orris Leiran; sister Iona Leiran; and son-in-law Orville Hesse.
Casketbearers were Ed’s nine children.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.