Dannen, Leonard L. 1929-2012

DANNEN, BERGFELD, THILL, NOFTSGER, NEWLAND, CARLSON, STERN, DEEMER, BOROTA, STEWART, VARNUM, AVERHOFF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/13/2012 at 21:23:13

Leonard L. Dannen, 82, formerly of Rhodes, currently residing at the Southridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, died there Monday, July 9, 2012.

A funeral service and a celebration of life for Leonard will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 14, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Burial will follow services at the Eden Cemetery in Rhodes. Visitation for Leonard will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today, July 13, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed in his name to either his family or Iowa Hospice. For further information or to send a condolence, visit http://www.mitchellfh.co or call (641) 844-1234. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Leonard and his family.

Leonard was born Sept. 2, 1929, in rural Marshall County, Iowa, to John and Frieda Dannen and was raised by Henry and Augusta Dannen. Leonard attended school in Newton and went on to graduate from Newton High School. Leonard worked on his family farm for several years before beginning his career as an auto and tractor mechanic. Leonard was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Bergfeld Thill on April 9, 1976. He was employed with Hawkeye Chevrolet, Axtel Ford and retired from Cross & Sons in August of 2006. Leonard loved Allis Chalmers tractors, Mopar and NASCAR. Throughout his lifetime he participated in numerous tractor pulls and was an avid collector of antique tractors and had an extensive toy tractor collection. He enjoyed working and tinkering on cars and tractors and spending time with his family. Leonard was a past member of the Mid-Iowa Antique Tractor Pulling Association.

Leonard is survived by his children, Cyril (Joy) Thill of Rhodes, Rick Thill of Rhodes, Nancy Noftsger of Plover, Wisconsin, Mary (Roger) Newland of Marshalltown, Beth (Jim) Carlson of Marshalltown, Janet Thill of Milwaukee, Mark (Song) Thill of Korea, Dee (Kent) Stern of Humboldt and Becky (David Deemer) Borota of Garwin, his sisters Marjorie Stewart of Gilman and JoAnn (Lloyd) Varnum of Marshalltown, Maxine Averhoff of Newton, his brothers; Max (Norma) Dannen of Marshalltown, Lloyd (Mary) Dannen of Tekamah, Nebraska and Duane (Rita) Dannen of Rhodes, his sister-in-law Mary Ann Dannen of Newton, his thirteen grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife Betty, parents Henry & Agusta Dannen and John and Frieda Dannen, brothers Glenn, George, Jake and Jerry, brother-in-law Hans Averhoff and nephew Jeff Dannen. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News, July 13, 2012