McGinnis, Leland (1910-2004)

MCGINNIS, WOLFF, ODQUIST, JOHNSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/7/2011 at 16:52:27

Leland McGinnis
June 13, 1910 - June 19, 2004

Leland B. McGinnis, 94, of Alta, died Saturday, June 19, 2004, at Mankato, Minnesota.

Leland was born near Onida, South Dakota, on June 13, 1910, to Frank Adolphus McGinnis and Lurae Wolff. He grew up in Onida where he graduated from high school. The family later moved to Sioux City where Lee played with dance bands from 1931 to 1937 when he came to Alta to run the Roxy Theatre.

He joined the Iowa National Guard and was called up in May 1940. After serving in the Aleutian Islands, he was discharged in October, 1945.

While living in Alta, Lee married Marie Odquist on December 25, 1937. Marie passed away in January, 1988. He later married Ida Johnson who took sick shortly afterwards and passed away in June, 1992.

Having devoted his life largely to music beginning with grade school lessons and moving on to local bands, then to professional dance bands during the 1930s, and later to teaching music, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music along the way from Buena Vista College. Subsequently, he taught music in the Early, Hayes Consolidated and Galva school districts. In addition, he played with the Karl King Band from Fort Dodge for over 30 years. At one point, he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts from Iowa State University.

He had extensive training in Organ servicing, largely self-taught, and became a much in demand expert.

Of all his accomplishments, he was particularly proud of having removed the old Wurlitzer organ from the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City and then rebuilding it into the Sioux City Auditorium. Rick Darrow became his assistant on the Sioux City project and went on to establish his own business doing similar work.

Lee was a member of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, the Pomegranate #408 AF&AM Masonic Lodge, and the VFW Post #6172.

He is survived by two nephews, Patrick McGinnis, of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, and Frank McGinnis, of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Services for Leland McGinnis were held at the Alta Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 22, 2004. Internment was at the Scandinavian Cemetery, Alta.

© Copyright 2004, Storm Lake Pilot Tribune

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