Leal, Jose (1939 - 2022)

LEAL, BATES, MARTINEZ, HENDERSEN, RIDRIGUEZ, DUNLAP, PEAVY

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/24/2022 at 14:43:56

Name of deceased: Jose Leal

Aged: 83 yrs, 3 mo, 2 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: July 2, 1939; Denver, Denver County, CO

Died: Oct. 4, 2022; Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022; St. Michael's Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife, Suzette Leal of Harlan, IA; children, Sandra (spouse, Frank) of Los Angeles, CA, Lorraine of Los Angeles, CA, Ronald (spouse, Aletha) of Los Angeles, CA, Mark (spouse, Kasey) of Avoca, IA, Shawn (spouse, Melinda) of Harlan, IA, and Joseph (spouse, Jade) of Harlan, IA; 16 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; sisters, Eleanor Martinez of Denver, CO, and Elizabeth (spouse, Terry) Hendersen of Denver, CO; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Petra (nee Rodriguez) and Jose Leal, Sr.; siblings, Maria Dunlap, Antonio Leal, and Pasty Peavy

Education: Attended school at Bryant Webster Elementary, Denver, CO; graduated from North High School, Denver, CO

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Denver, CO

Military service: Enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1956; while he initially trained as a combat engineer in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, he became a paratrooper; honorably discharged, 1958

Marriage: Suzette Bates; Aug. 16, 1980; location not provided

Employment: After completing his military service, Jose moved from Denver, CO to the Oakland/San Francisco area, doing odd jobs until he moved to Los Angeles. There, he began his trucking career at Sears Roebuck, and then became a long-haul truck driver working for various companies from California to Iowa. He retired in 2002.

Hobbies/Interests: Enjoyed fishing, hunting, wood working, working on cars, yard work and household improvements. After he retired, Jose assisted his community by translating for the sheriff, police, courts, hospital and other places as needed.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com