Leona Berniece (Dorenkamp) LIEBERKNECHT

LIEBERKNECHT, DORENKAMP, PALS, BUBECK, HALL, JENISON, HARTMAN, LAWIN, HAACK, BALDWIN, SHILLINLAW, BURT, LAMB, MENNENGA, BOELMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/9/2012 at 11:36:46

June 24, 1920 --- July 4, 2012

Belmond — Leona B. Lieberknecht, age 92, of Belmond, died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, 1019 First St. S.E., Belmond. The Rev. Cindy Morrision will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery, Belmond. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continue one hour prior to the services at church on Wednesday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Leona’s name may wish to consider the Iowa Special Hospital-Belmond, Hospice of Wright County, or to the donor’s choice.

Leona Berniece Dorenkamp, the daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Pals) Dorenkamp, was born June 24, 1920, on her parents’ farm in rural Alexander. She was one of 11 children to to bless this union. Leona attended rural school and later attended Meservey schools where she graduated from Meservey High School with the Class of 1937. She was united in marriage to Wilbur Lieberknecht on Nov. 26, 1938, at the Meservey Reformed Church Parsonage by the Rev. Kampman. The couple’s union brought six children in to the world: Janean, Janet, David, Kirk, Jolene, and Joan. Together Leona and Wilbur farmed in rural Meservey, where they raised crops and dairy cattle. Leona was a diligent and hardworking partner in the farming operations, assisting Wilbur with many of the tasks on the farm. She was a wonderful and nurturing caregiver for her husband and children, working tirelessly to provide a wonderful home for her family. Her main focuses in life included her family and faith. She truly lived for her family and her compass in life was her faith which she followed every second, of every moment, of every day of her life.

Wilbur and Leona moved their family into the town of Belmond in 1960, where they raised their children. Soon after moving to town, Wilbur commenced and built his own tire dealership from the ground floor up. Initially the business was known as Rubber Welders and later named OK Tire. Wilbur worked hard to develop the business, which he owned and operated until retiring in 1988, when he sold it to his son, David. Wilbur preceded Leona in death in 1994. Leona’s children reflect fondly on the wonderful and delicious meals she provided for them including hardy breakfasts to start their days in earlier years. She was a classy and refined lady who relished opportunities to entertain and host her family and friends, meticulously setting the dining room table for wonderful feasts. She also shared her creative and loving skills with her family by spending hundreds of hours handcrafting many beautiful and intricately designed quilts for her children and grandchildren. Leona and Wilbur took numerous journeys to visit their children, both overseas and in the United States. They had taken various cruises and in later years Leona enjoyed bus trips to the East and other places. Their trips took them to the country of Zaire, Africa and many other destinations throughout the years. The couple and family enjoyed traveling in their fifth wheel together and in later years following Wilbur’s passing, Leona continued to travel with her children. For many years she was a devoted and loving caregiver to her son Kirk, who was injured in a motor vehicle accident, while continuing to be a full-time home maker.

Leona was a longtime devoted member of the Calvary Baptist Church, Belmond, where she assisted it’s ministry in many different roles. In recent years, as her health deteriorated, she attended the Belmond United Methodist Church with her children and grandchildren. Following Wilbur’s death in 1994, Leona continued to reside in her home on Third Street Northeast, where she cared for Kirk. In 2005, she moved to the Belmond Community Apartments where she would spend the next six years until her health made it time to move to the Belmond Rehabilitation Center. During her time at the Rehabilitation Center, Leona blossomed socially and enjoyed her times there. She looked forward to nearly every activity that came about. Whether it was an afternoon of Bingo, Jokereno, a birthday celebration, an afternoon of music, or other entertainment, or just a visit from family and friends.

Those having the privilege of crossing in Leona’s life journey will remember her as a lady of boundless faith, immeasurable love for her family, and limitless kindness and care for others. A true lady of elegance and dignity. Her memory will be carried forward in the hearts and minds of her surviving family including her daughter, Janean (Larry) Bubeck, Blairsburg, and their children, Bradley (Erika) Bubeck, and Kimberly (Gordon) Hall and their children, Cassandra, Maxwell, Zachary, and Lucas; a son, David (Diane) Lieberknecht, Belmond, and their daughter Debra (Mark) Jenison and their children, Michael, Danielle, and Nicholas, and son Daniel Lieberknecht; a daughter, Jolene (Duane) Mennenga, Meservey, and their family, Jennifer (Kurk) Haack and their children, Ben, Andy, and Abby; Jason Baldwin, Josh (Shari) Baldwin and their son, Jaxson; Katelyn (Adam) Hartman and their children, Makayla and Meya; a daughter, Joan Lawin (special friend Kevin Shillinlaw) and children, Erin Burt and her son, Owen, Kylee (Eric) Lamb and their children, Adasyn, Kysen, and Lynken; a sister, Bonnie Boelman, North Liberty; a sister-in-law, Ruth Dorenkamp, Clear Lake; numerous nieces and nephews and other extended family. Leona was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Wilbur; daughter Janet; son Kirk; grandson Scott Bubeck; and her siblings, Lewis, Lester, Robert, Nettie, Martha, Ethel, Luella, Ruth, and Marie. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
July 9, 2012