TJADEN, Leonard Edward 1917-1997

TJADEN, COLEMAN, DRAHEIM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/11/2011 at 00:15:47

Leonard E. Tjaden

CHARLES CITY, IOWA -- Leonard E. Tjaden, 80, 1914 Cedar Crest Lane, died unexpectedly Friday (July 25, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East, Mason City.

Funeral services will held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Main and Gilbert streets. The Rev. Dennis D. Niezwaag, senior pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be a public Masonic Service at 8 p.m. tonight conducted by the St. Charles Masonic Lodge #141 AF & AM of Charles City. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday afternoon.

Leonard Edward Tjaden was born July 2, 1917, in rural Chickasaw County, northeast of Colwell, the son of Frank and Tena (Colemann) Tjaden. Leonard was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Alta Vista. He attended school in Colwell and graduated from Colwell High School in 1935. On August 16, 1939, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles City, he was united in marriage to Marion Margaret Draheim. The couple farmed with Leonard's parents until the following spring. At that time they moved to farm Marion's father's farm, located on what is now called Underwood Avenue. They raised their children on the farm and continued to live there until about six years ago, when they moved to their current address.

Leonard maintained a long and distinguished career of service to his community. He was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served on the building committee of the parish hall, the organ committee, the church council and several call committees. He was on the Board of Directors for Camp EWALU of Strawberry Point, and the Lutheran Brotherhood. Leonard was currently serving as a director of the Floyd County Historical Society. In farming organizations, he was a past president of the Floyd County Beef Producers and a member of the State Cattlemen's Board. He was a past president of the Floyd County Farm Bureau, where he was instrumental in securing their present facility on Gilbert Street. Leonard was progressive in many environmental concerns. He served as chairman of the Washington School Watershed Project. Leonard showed concern for the education of children, and served on the Charles City School Board. He was a former member of the Toastmasters and Kiwanis. Leonard was a member of St. Charles Masonic Lodge #141 AF & AM, BPO Elks #418 and Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1011, all of Charles City. Leonard also owned the former Gable Building in Charles City, which, after the tornado, became the Dental Center.

Living family members include his wife, Marion, of Charles City; two sons and their wives, Larry and Mary Tjaden, and Dean and Linda Tjaden, all of Charles City; a daughter, Christie Tjaden of Euless, Texas; one sister, Mrs. Meta Jensen of Osage; five grandchildren, Scott Tjaden, Deb Stanbro, Lyndsay, Beau and Seth Tjaden; five step-grandchildren, Logan, Luke and Landon Squire, Jenni Read and Jeff Edgbert; and two great-grandchildren, Kacey and Justin Stanbro.

He is preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Bonnie Tjaden; four brothers, Louis, Bernard, Jacob and Ernest Tjaden; and a sister, Anna Brion.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Building Fund.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]