LeFleur, Wendell Robert 1920-2013

LEFLEUR, THOMAS, WEBB, METZGER, MULHOLLAND, DICKMAN, DEAN, SANDER, GESSMANN, VOSS, RALSTON, DAME, FERGUSON

Posted By: Ruth Maring (email)
Date: 8/22/2013 at 14:46:18

Wendell R. LeFleur, 93, of Clinton, passed away on June 25, 2013 at his home.

Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Monday, July 1, 2013 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery with military honors being conducted by the Clinton AMVETS Post #28. Serving as pallbearers will be Marty Dean, Ryan Mulholland, Cai Dickman, Stephen Furgeson, Andrew LeFleur, and Sean Mulholland. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Darin Sander, Jake Gessmann, Dan Voss, John Ralston, and Russel Dame. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00-5:00pm at the funeral home.

Wendell Robert LeFleur and his twin brother Wayne were born at home in Glen Park, New York a suburb of Watertown, New York, on January 9, 1920 to Chauncey and Macy (Thomas) LeFleur. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1938. He graduated from Clarkson College with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1943. He played varsity football in both high school and college. He was then inducted into the United States Army in 1943. That fall he married Katherine Webb. He was discharged from the Army in August 1946. He was hired by the DuPont Company shortly thereafter in Buffalo, New York.

Wendell was recalled by the Army and served a year during the Korean Conflict. After his return to DuPont in Buffalo he was transferred to Clinton, Iowa, in 1954. In 1955, his wife Katherine died leaving him with two young children, Patricia and Bruce.

Wendell married Joanne Metzger on July 1, 1956, they had one child, Susan. Wendell retired from DuPont on March 1, 1980. In earlier years, Wendell was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and Sunday School teacher. He enjoyed visiting and spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed listening and dancing to music, reading the Wall Street Journal daily, playing chess, and traveling. He will be remembered for his keen sense of humor, enjoying a good cigar, and his daily 4pm ritual of having a glass of wine & 6 olives on his porch in the summer.

Wendell is survived by his wife: Joanne of Clinton; his children: Patricia (Thomas) Mulholland of Clinton, Bruce (Alyse) LeFleur of East Waterboro, Maine, and Susan (Allan) Dickman of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; 13 grandchildren: Marty Dean, Nicole (Darin) Sander, Ryan (Mia) Mulholland, and Elizabeth (Jake) Gessmann, Sharon (Dan) Voss, Sande (John) Ralston, and Sue (Russel) Dame; Melissa LeFleur, Andrew LeFleur, and Allison LeFleur; and Katie (Stephen) Ferguson, Laura Dickman, and Cai Dickman; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, his twin brother, and one great-granddaughter: Ellie Sander.

Memorials can be made to Mercy Hospice, the Clinton Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.