Leonard Lee Berends

BERENDS, HOVENGA, DEBOWER, JUEL, DISRUD, FRASER, NITCHER, RAGAN, HOLLAND, FREESEMANN

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 16:20:05

Leonard Lee Berends, 74, of Shell Rock, Iowa, died August 4, 2008, at the Community Nursing Home in Clarksville, Iowa.

Leonard was born October 24, 1933, the son of Pete and Katie (Hovenga) Berends in rural Butler County. He graduated from Shell Rock High School in 1952. He honorably served his country in the United States Army from 1955-1957. On December 31, 1956, he was united in marriage to Eileen DeBower in Lawton, Oklahoma. Leonard farmed from 1958 to 1967 in rural Shell Rock. In 1967 he began working for Carnation in Waverly as a fork lift operator, retiring in 1996 after 29 years of service.

Leonard loved to work and fix many things, especially clocks. He also enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs on T.V. and visiting with family and friends. Leonard had a love for all animals, especially the family dogs.

Those thankful for having shared in Leonard's life include his wife, Eileen of Shell Rock; daughters, Ann (Bruce) Juel of Shell Rock, Jane Lee (Dan) Disrud of rural Plainfield, and Betty (Skip) Fraser of Altoona, Iowa; sisters, Lucille (Raymond) Nitcher of Parkersburg and Mary Ann (Ronnie) Ragan of Bethany, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Chad Juel, Trista Juel, Nick Holland, Anthony Holland, Alan Freesemann, and Andrew Freesemann; great grandchild, Jennifer Holland.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Everett J. (Bud) Berends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2008, at Faith Lutheran Church in Shell Rock with burial in Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock and for an hour prior to service time at the church on Thursday.

Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice or the family.

Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock is in charge of arrangements,