Dwight D. LeClere (1928-2021)

LECLERE, BRONEMANN, KLOPP, SMITH, STRAUCH

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/2/2021 at 07:45:08

Dwight Dale LeClere, 93, of Coggon, Iowa, passed away on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. Family will greet friends and family from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, at Zion Presbyterian Church located at 110 Third St. North in Coggon. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at the church, where an additional visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Pastor Donald LeClere and Pastor Lisa Ross Thedens will officiate. Burial will follow at Coggon Cemetery in Coggon. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Central City is assisting the family.

Dwight was born on Sept. 27, 1928, at the family farmhouse East of Coggon, the son of Ernest Dwight and Marie Rose (Bronemann) LeClere. As a young teenager, he detasseled corn to earn money for lessons to receive his pilot license, which he earned before the age of 16. He was a 1946 graduate of Coggon High School and went on to serve honorably in the United States Army, during the Korean Conflict. On Nov. 4, 1951, Dwight was united in marriage to Arlene Klopp at the Central Park Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He farmed his entire life as well as worked for Collins Radio and Iowa Manufacturing. His love for flying never ended. He was a member of the Antique Aircraft Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association. Dwight was also a member of the Masonic Lodge Mecca 523, Coggon American Legion Post 362, the Scottish Rite, Coggon Historical Society, the Eastern Star, and Zion Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing and going to his grandchildren's sporting events. Dwight's passion was spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Dwight is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 69 years, Arlene J. LeClere of Coggon; four children, Dave (Vicky) LeClere of Coggon, Don (Sandra) LeClere of Marshall, Minn., Doug LeClere (Cindy Mormann) of Coggon and Kim (Don) Smith of Monticello, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Heather (Patrick) Strauch, Brad (Kate) LeClere, Lisa LeClere (fiancé, Clinton Bryan), Josh LeClere, Mike LeClere (fiancée, Samantha Fern), Dan (Leah) LeClere, Nick (Maddison) LeClere, Chris (Emily) LeClere, Derick Smith (fiancée, Beatrize Hernandez) and Brandon Smith; 18 great-grandchildren; brother, Harlan LeClere of Cedar Rapids; and sister, Beverly LeClere-Melcome of Hercules, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Marie LeClere.

A memorial fund in Dwight's memory has been established.

Please share a memory of Dwight at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.