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Leonard Sholes
LEONARD SHOLES
Marion
Leonard D. Sholes, 81, of Marion, passed away peacefully at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014. Visitation will be at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Marion. Following interment, a reception will be in the church hall at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Marion.
Leonard was born Sept. 19, 1932, in Inman, Neb., the son of Daniel W. and Nellie O. Sholes. He was a graduate of Inman High School and received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska. Leonard served in the U.S. Army in Japan during the Korean War. On Sept. 6, 1958, Leonard married LaVonne L. Leiting of Maple River, Iowa.
Leonard and LaVonne moved to Hiawatha in 1960 after accepting a mechanical engineering position at Collins Radio Co. Leonard assisted in the design and development of aviation instruments and had numerous patents at Rockwell Collins. Leonard retired after 34 years as a mechanical engineer manager from Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids.
Leonard enjoyed camping, square dancing, woodworking and spending time with his wife, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandson. Leonard also enjoyed traveling back to his hometown of Inman, Neb., to visit family.
The family extends their appreciation to the caregivers at Mercy Medical Center Cardiac and Stroke Unit and Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy for their excellent care.
Survivors include his loving wife, LaVonne; their five daughters, Diana Kloppenborg (Nason) of Lawrence, Kan., Janet Jones of Kansas City, Mo., Phyllis Johnston (David) of Blue Grass, Linda Hegland (Robert) of Marion and Lois Strief (Jeff) of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Erica Kloppenborg, Brittany Johnston, Christopher Jones, Gabriel Jones, Dakota Johnston, Jeffrey Strief and Justin Hegland; and a great-grandson, Rilee Ward.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Nellie Sholes; a brother, Horace Sholes; a sister, Zola Keil; and a grandchild, Brandon Johnston.
Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com.
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