Florence Vondean [Collins] Leahy 1926-2010

COLLINS, LEAHY, WEST, ELSBERRYROGERS, GEDLINSKE, PIERSON

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 6/16/2010 at 17:55:06

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa June 2, 2010)

LEAHY, Florence Vondean, 83, died at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa on May 25. 2010. Funeral Services were held at the Slade-O'Donnell Funeral home in Leon, Iowa at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 29, 2010 with Deacon Reinhold Kunze officiating. Burial was in the Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa June 2, 2010)

FLORENCE VONDEAN LEAHY ... Florence Vondean Leahy, age 83 of Leon, Iowa, the daughter of Elige and Gertie [West] Collins, was born July 3, 1926 in Decatur County, Iowa. She died at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon on Tuesday, May 25, 2010.

Florence grew up in Decatur County and graduated from high school. On April 1, 1944 she married Jon Francis Leahy in Charleston, South Carolina. She rode the train down and back alone as the next day Jon left for his U.S. Army Air Corps tour of duty. They were blessed with three children, Linda, Garry, and David Leroy, who died in infancy.

Florence worked at O'Bryan Brothers for a few years before they moved to Atlantic, Iowa where she was a school cook from 1969 until the mid 1980's when Jon retired and they moved back to Leon.

Collecting buttons and belonging to the Button Club was very interesting for Florence. She was a talented seamstress making quilts and stuffed animals or anything she wanted. She loved all kinds and colors of flowers, gardening, and birds. she was a hard worker and enjoyed what she did. She and Jon walked all over town in all kinds of weather.

Preceding her in death were her parents; infant son David; and daughter Linda Elsberry.

Survivors include her husband Joh Leahy of Leon; son Garry Leahy and wife Cristal of Van Wert, Iowa; four grandchildren, Sandi & Pat Rogers and Becki & Jon Gedlinske, all of Iowa City, Iowa and Jon & Terri Leahy and Janet & Casey Pierson, all of Leon; 10 great grandchildren; one new born great, great grandson; brothers Floyd & Shirley Collins of Leon, Francis & Suzie Collins of Truxton, Missouri, and Richard & Jean Collins of Indianola, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.