Woll, Leo Eugene 1923-2009

WOLL, BEAUBIEN, TOOKER, PRATT, BERGQUIST, AKLAND

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 5/3/2009 at 21:10:59

SIOUX CITY JOURNAL
MAY 3, 2009

MERRILL, Iowa -- Leo Woll, 85, of Merrill passed away Thursday, April 30, 2009, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellendale, Iowa, with the Rev. Dan Greving officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Olson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill. Visitation with the family present will be after 5:30 p.m. today, with a 7 p.m., Scriptural wake service, at the church. Visitation will continue 9:30 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa.

Leo Eugene Woll was born May 2, 1923, on the family farm in Johnson Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa, to Cleo Woll. Leo was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellendale. He attended country school near his home in Johnson Township. Leo proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, Hq Co 3rd Bn 144th Infantry during World War II from March 4, 1942, until his honorable discharge on Oct. 20, 1945. Leo returned to Iowa and worked with his grandparents, Frank and Louisa, along with his uncle, John Woll on their farms.

He was united in marriage to Gertrude Ann Beaubien in 1945 and they lived on the family homestead west of Merrill in the house Leo and his grandfather built. In those years, Leo farmed in the summer months and in the winter worked for Swift & Co. in Sioux City until 1968, when he decided to farm full-time. His wife, Gertrude passed away on Jan. 6, 1966.

On Feb, 16, 1968, Leo and Evelyn Tooker-Pratt were united in marriage.They continued farming in Johnson Township and also on a farm near Akron for several years, retiring in the mid 1980s. Leo and Evelyn continued to live on the family homestead west of Merrill until August 2008, when they moved into the town of Merrill.

Leo was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he volunteered his time and efforts with church and cemetery maintenance. He also was an active member of the Olson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill.

Leo was always very willing to help his neighbors on their farms with various field work and carpentry jobs. He and Evelyn enjoyed dancing and visiting with family and friends. During his later years, Leo enjoyed his friendship with neighbor Kenneth Brown by traveling about the county, exploring the changing landscape about them and pondering the world’s problems with fellow farmers over a cup of coffee.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Evelyn of Merrill; six children, Walter Pratt and his wife, Cheryl of Ocala, Fla., Julie Bergquist and her husband, Craig of Merrill, Mick Woll and his wife, Kathleen of New Port, R.I., Alan Pratt and his wife, Marcia of Le Mars, Denny Woll and his wife, Mona of Albuquerque, N.M., and Dee Akland and her husband, Rick of Beresford, S.D.; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter; in-laws, Frances and Darrell Pranke of Sioux City, Harold and Carol Tooker of Merrill, and Bonnie DeRocher of Le Mars; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Cleo Woll; and two grandsons, Michael Woll and Clint Bergquist.

Pallbearers will be Tanner Akland, Sam Pratt, Luke Pratt, Curt Bergquist, Jon Bergquist and Jay Bergquist. Honorary pallbearers will be Christopher Michael Woll, Christopher Miles Woll, T.J. Woll, Nicholas Woll, Nicole Woll, Wally Pratt Jr. and Michael Pratt.