Leaf, Paul Arthur (1921-2007)

LEAF, SWANSON, HUGHES, BROCK, NELSON, DODD, INGRAM, CHOPARD TIMM, FAULKNER, SOLEM

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 6/10/2008 at 22:30:14

Daily Freeman Journal - April 12, 2007

Paul A. Leaf, 86, of Webster City, a former Stratford area farmer, died Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at the Southfield Wellness Community. A private graveside committal service will be held at the South Marion Cemetery, southeast of Stratford with Rev. Gerald Caquelin officiating. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center.

Paul Arthur Leaf, son of Arthur and Johanna Swanson Leaf, was born January 10, 1921 at his grandmother’s home at Stratford. He attended Munson and other rural schools and graduated from Stratford Public School in 1940, as salutatorian. He farmed with his father. On March 2, 1952, he married VaDonna Jean Hughes at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at Stanhope. He continued farming in the Bell’s Mill area with his father. They also processed Bell’s Mill pure cane sorghum. He continued farming and operating the sorghum business after his father’s death. After moving to Webster City in 1990, he worked at Graceland Cemetery for several years.

Paul is survived by his wife, VaDonna; daughters and sons-in-law, Suzanne Leaf-Brock and Tony Brock of Pine Island, MN; Melissa and Jonathan Nelson of Madison, WI; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Julie Leaf of Boone; grandchildren, Heidi Sue and Aaron Dodd; Sarah and Jason Ingram; Crystal Leaf; Hillary Leaf and Caleb Chopard-Leaf; great-grandchildren, Christian Ingram and
Annabelle Dodd, all of Boone; sister, Doris Timm of Utica, MN; several nieces and nephews and a special and faithful friend, Jerry Faulkner of Webster City.

He was preceded in death by a son, Paul Arnold Leaf on August 21, 1989; his parents; brothers, Dale and John Leaf and sister, Florence Solem.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Stratford, where he was a Deacon for several years; he was a member of Diamond K, a Kiwanis club; he also enjoyed woodworking and gardening.