DURNAN, Sr., Leo Joseph --- 1915-1992

FETTKETHER, DURNAN, STAHR, WALKER, TURNER, ELLERMAN, RASMUSSEN, SKRETTA, SLAGLE, BOYER, LANDSGARD, THEISEN, SCHMADEKE, COBB

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 12/23/2010 at 20:16:54

Leo Joseph Durnan

Leo Joseph Durnan, Sr., 76, son of Charles and Veronica Marie (Fettkether) Durnan, was born June 3, 1915, on a farm near Fairbank, IA. He died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1992, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union, IA.

He graduated from the Immaculate Conception Catholic High School at Fairbank in 1933. Leo farmed with his parents for a short time. For a few months he delivered milk, house-to-house in Des Moines for Anderson-Erickson Dairy. He returned to the Fairbank area where he found work as a farmhand.

On June 16, 1937, he was married to Grace Viola Stahr in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein, IA. They had 19 children. They farmed in the Fairbank and Volga areas. In 1957 they purchased their farm near Elgin. During the winter months, Leo and Grace have lived in their home in Clermont.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a daughter, Grace "Sue" Walker; a granddaughter, Lisa Durnan; a brother, Bernard; and a sister, Valeria.

Surviving are his wife, Grace; 11 sons: Charles (Margie) of Miami, AZ; Joseph (Janis) of Alta Vista, IA; Michael (Bonnie) of Arlington, IA; James (Kathy) of Thomaston, GA; Mark (Kathy) of Elkader, IA; Bernard (Luke) of Walker, IA; John (Mary), Thomaston, GA; Paul (Roberta) of Clermont, IA; Francis (Sylvia) of Blobe, AZ; Anthony of Miami, AZ; and Leo, Jr. (Shirley) of Elgin, IA; 7 daughters: Mary (Kenneth) Turner, Evansdale, IA; Regina (Terry) Ellerman of Mendon, IL; Lucy (Jim) Rasmussen of Leland, Ia; Rebecca (Mark) Skretta of Ft. Atkinson, IA; Martha (Steve) Slagle of Algona, IA; Veronica (Kenny) Boyer of Hawkeye, IA; and Marie (Mark) Landsgard of Postville, IA; 75 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Joe Durnan of Waterloo; and five sisters: Angela (Bill) Theisen and Frances Schmadeke, all of Waterloo, Sister M. Valeria Durnan of Dubuque; Dolorita Durnan of Minneapolis, MN; and Veronica (John) Cobb of Cedar Falls.

A funeral mass was held Saturday, Feb. 15, 1992, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic, Clermont, IA. The Rev. David Ambrosy officiated. The Schutte Funeral Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the church cemetery. Casket bearers were Mark, John, Paul, Francis, Anthony, Joe, Charles, Jospeh, Michael, James, Bernard (Luke) and Leo Durnan, Jr.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.