LEON BIRDSELL 1909-1965

TODD, BIRDSELL, MEYER, SMITHLING, MOON, CASE, RIDGWAY

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/16/2005 at 13:45:29

Leon Birdsell Dies Suddenly

Leon Todd Birdsell, 56, died Thursday night, Aug. 5, at 8:45 o'clock at the Postville hospital where he was taken at about 7:30 o'clock when he was stricken with a heart attack at his home.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, Aug. 9, at 1:30 at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran church with Rev. R. E. Langholz officiating.

The body lay in state at the church from 12:30 o'clock in the afternoon until the time of the services. A Masonic service was held at the Schultz Funeral home, Sunday night, Aug. 8, at 7:30 o'clock. Burial was in the City cemetery.

Mr. Birdsell was born a son of Roy and Mae, nee Todd, Birdsell, April 9, 1909, at Ossian. His parents died when he was about 4 years old, after which he was cared for by his grandmother, Mrs. Rachel Birdsell.

He received his education in the Frankville schools.

He was baptized July 3, 1921, in April, 1939, he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul Lutheran church in Postville.

He was married to Vella Meyer, June 22, 1933. They lived in Postville for a time, where Mr. Birdsell was a rural mail carrier and later worked in a clothing store.

In 1939 they moved to Monona, where he operated a clothing store for 18 years and later a restaurant. He also worked as a clerk in the Monona post office, and at the time of his death was a bookkeeper at Drahn Implement Co.

He served Monona as mayor for two terms and was a member of the board of education for a like number of terms. He was also a member of the Kiwanis club and the Masonic lodge. He had been a member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran church in Monona since 1939. Preceding him in death were his parents, one sister, Mrs. Inez Smithling, and one brother, Leslie.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Keith (Mary) Moon of Rochester, Minn.; a son-in-law, Keith Moon; two sister, Mrs. Lee (Esther) Case of Estherville and Mrs. Herb (Bessie) Ridgway of Dayton; and two grandchildren, Jeffery and troy Moon.

Music at the services was provided by congregational singing. Mrs. George Heins was the organist.

Honorary pallbearers were: John A. Lenth, Fred Wiedenmann, Erwin Drahn, Gaylord Oelke St., Ed Doerring, and Glen Crain.

Active casket bearers were: Edward Cordes, Farley Henkes, Roger Fuelling, Stanton Sawvell, Ivon J. Schultz, Everett Drahn, Gilbert Rose, and Harold Moon.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.