Diercksen, Leona Marie

Leona Marie Diercksen, 78, of Marion, died Monday, May 27, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a long illness. Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at Faith Lutheran Church in Marion by the Rev. John Albertson. Friends may visit the family one hour before the service at the church. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion.

Survivors include her husband, Victor of Marion; her children, Leann Diercksen of Goodlettsville, Tenn., and Victor (Jennifer) Diercksen of Seattle, Wash., and their son, William Alexander. Also surviving are her siblings, Helen Weselmann of Decorah and Sigurd (Barb) Ness of Waukon.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Howard.

Leona was born Oct. 1, 1934, the daughter of Lester and Meta (Schmieden) Ness in Waterville, Iowa. On Dec. 28, 1958, she married Victor Diercksen at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Waterville. Leona graduated from Luther College in 1956, with her teaching degree. She taught at Monticello and Hyattsville, Md., school systems, and then stayed home to raise her family. She returned to work substitute teaching and finished her teaching career at Linn-Mar.

Leona was a very active member of Faith Lutheran Church. She started and led the Prayer Shawl Ministries and was an active member of the Senior Group.

She loved to crochet, knit, and was an avid gardener. Leona enjoyed assisting her daughter, working on cruise ships as a seamstress. They went on trips to Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and South America.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Leona's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Leona at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published May 30, 2013 in The Gazette