Freddie LEERAR

LEERAR, SWEERS, HAMPE, BUBLITZ, SUTTON, MONSON, SLAGLE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/16/2009 at 11:17:23

July 17, 1997
Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette

KANAWHA, IA--Freddie Leerar, 78, of Kanawha, passed away Tuesday (July 15, 1997) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Britt. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Ewing Funeral Home, Britt, with the Rev. Robert Dodge and Father Marvin Bries officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Britt. Military rites will be under the direction of the Britt American Legion. Visitation will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Freddie, the son of Joseph and Tina Sweers Leerar, was born March 3, 1919, on a farm near Stilson. He attended country schools. On April 11, 1942, he was united in marriage with Elsie Hampe in Bethany, Mo. Freddie served in the U.S. Army 432nd Air Force in England from 1942 to 1945. In his unit #381st Bombardment Group, he received four overseas service bars, the European-African-Middle Eastern with six bronze stars and a Good Conduct Medal. The couple started farming between Britt and Kanawha in 1947. Freddie played softball all over the area as a pitcher for many years. He loved spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing and bowling. Freddie was always busy helping his neighbors with their farm work. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion in Britt.

Freddie is survived by his wife, Elsie, of Kanawha; two daughters, Betty Bublitz and her husband, David, of Marion, and Patricia Sutton and her husband, Perry, of Waterloo; three sons, Dick and his wife, Judy; Robert and his wife, Barbara, and Craig and his wife, Marlene, all of Britt; 16 grandchildren, Brian, Randy, Nicole, Jennifer, Christopher, Ethan, Kristy, Kari, Stephanie, Bobby Jo, Angie, Joe, Becca, Nicholas, Michelle and Paul; four great-grandchildren, Seth, Sam, Rachel and Brady; two sisters, Esther Monson of Mason City, and Caroline Slagle of Missoula, Mont.; one brother, Jake Leerar of Kanawha; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.