Thorpe, Leona (Fagan) 1925-2015

FAGAN, THORPE, GABEL, BRINSTER, PELELO

Posted By: Bruce E Atkinson (email)
Date: 11/25/2015 at 21:25:53

Leona Marie Thorpe, 89, of Le Mars, died early Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center, in Sioux City.in Sioux City.
Leona Marie Fagan was born Dec. 20, 1925, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Alan and Verna (Gabel) Fagan. As a young child, the family moved to a farm near Merrill.
Leona graduated from Merrill High School in 1943.
She continued her education at Morningside College and then moved to Chicago, Illinois, and later to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she met her future husband who was stationed at Fort Carson.
Leona was united in marriage to Albert Thorpe on Feb. 4, 1956. As a career soldier, Sergeant-Major Thorpe was stationed in Germany, Fort Hamilton (New York) and then back to Germany. Upon retirement from the Army, the family settled in Le Mars in 1968. Leona stayed home to raise four children.
Volunteerism was very important to Leona.
She was a long time member of First United Methodist Church/UMCL where she participated in UMW and served as a district officer and also helped coordinate Meals-On-Wheels for her church for over 40 years. She also served on the funeral committee for many years.
She also volunteered with the League of Women Voters, MDA, Senior Help Mates to drive people to doctor's appointments and the gift shop at Floyd Valley Hospital.
Leona was honored by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad with the "2013 Governor's Award for Volunteering."
Survivors include her five children: Linda (Larry) Brinster, of Frazee, Minnesota, Mickey Joe (Kathy) Thorpe, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Paul (Marie) Thorpe, of Merrill, Mark (Chris) Thorpe, of Ankeny, and Jerry (Candie) Thorpe, of Elk Point, South Dakota; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her brother, Leland "Al" Fagan and his wife Bev, of Merrill, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alan and Verna (Gabel) Fagan; her husband Albert Thorpe on March 1, 2003; a grandson, Adam Thorpe McNamara; and a sister, Lila (Alex) Pelelo.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars with the Rev. John Battern officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Cemetery, in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 2 p.m. Sunday with a prayer service at 5 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home, in Le Mars. Visitation will continue Monday morning at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Copyright © 2015 Le Mars Daily Sentinel (Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa) of 16 July 2015.