Knowles, Leland Gerald 'Lee'

Leland Gerald “Lee” Knowles, 74, Lisbon, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, at Crestview Acres Nursing Home, Marion, from Parkinson's disease complications. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mount Vernon, by the Rev. Rodney Allers. Friends may call from 4 until 8 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Leland is to be buried in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Lisbon, with military honors.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; four daughters, Linda (Dennis) DeJong, Oskaloosa, Tami Knowles, Scottsdale, Ariz., Kimberly Nelson, Phoenix, Ariz., and Diana Knowles, Cedar Rapids; son, Stephen (Nada) Knowles of Minnetonka, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sisters, Barbara (Bob) Helmer, West Branch, and Katherine (Darrell) Goodall, Chetek, Wis.

Preceding Leland in death were his parents, and brother, James.

Leland was born in Cedar Rapids on Feb. 12, 1937, the son of Leland A. and Velma (Thomas) Knowles. He attended Solon High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 until 1959. He married Barbara Jean Heisdorffer on June 16, 1962, in Harper, Iowa. Leland was proud of the 14 years he served as a reserve officer on the Lisbon Police Department. Golf was his joy and he liked fishing with his family.

Leland was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a proud member of Cyclops American Legion Post 109, Lisbon.

The family would like to thank Hospice Compassus, Cedar Rapids, and Crestview Acres, Marion, for their wonderful care of Leland and his family.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at