Wise, Leland John Sr.

Leland John Wise Sr., 89, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, surrounded by his family at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, with Father Mark Reasoner officiating. Friends may call from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday and after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Private interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Lee was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Athol, S.D., the son of John and Luella (Meyer) Wise. He graduated from Cedar Rapids Roosevelt High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, 1941 to 1945 and in Korea, 1951. Lee worked as a machine assembler for 38 years at Cherry-Burrell in Cedar Rapids. As a machinist he traveled around the world installing and servicing equipment in India, Taiwan and Ireland. In addition, he built over 20 homes in Cedar Rapids and enjoyed bowling, woodworking, gardening and reading. Lee spent over 50 years playing fast and slow pitch softball. He was proud to be a member of the Cedar Rapids Softball Hall of Fame. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW and St. Jude's. In addition, Lee was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs and Bears, and New York Yankees.

Lee was married to Julia Marie Lancia on Sept. 25, 1943, at St. Francis DeSales Church in Geneva, N.Y. He was a devoted and loving husband, dad, granddad and great-granddad.

Survivors include his wife, Julie of Cedar Rapids; four children, Lee (Helen) Wise Jr. of Solon, Sharon (Steve) Zaugg of Cedar Rapids, Jeffry (Sharon) Wise of Cedar Rapids, and Stacy (Steve) Kiffe of Minneapolis, Minn.; grandchildren, Shannon (Jeff) Awsumb, Lee Jackson (Nicole) Wise and Zachary (Brianna) Wise, Julie (Jason) Pewe, Renee Leonard, Kristen Leonard and Ashley Leonard, Rachel Kiffe and Dana Kiffe and Nicole Wise; and great-grandchildren, Charlie Awsumb, Marissa and Ethan Pewe, Madisyn and Mia Wise.

Also surviving are his brothers, Manuel (Dorothy) of Cedar Rapids, Richard (Nancy) of Cedar Rapids, and Melvin of Arizona; sister, Evelyn Humphreys, sisters-in-law, June Wise and Elizabeth Wise; many nieces and nephews; and his cats, George and Pooky.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Sandra Kay; three sisters, Phyllis Wennermark, Thelma Humphreys and Norma Jean Wise; and twin brothers, Leonard and Laurence Wise.

A special thanks to Drs. Payvandi and Cearlock, and the medical personnel at Mercy Hospital and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mercy Hospice.

Please sign the online guest book for Lee at under obituaries.