Dahms, Leonard A.

Leonard A. Dahms of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at the Hospice House of Mercy after a long battle with cancer. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Kenwood United Methodist Church, 175 34th St. NE, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Michael Metz. Private Interment: Maple Hill Cemetery, Gladbrook. Friends may call at the church after 9:30 a.m. Friday until time of service. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

Leonard was born in Waterloo, on Feb. 27, 1922. His parents were Martha Gompert and William Dahms. The family moved from a farm near Finchford to Gladbrook in 1932. He graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1939. He served in the U.S. Signal Corps from 1942 to 1946. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Electrical Engineering. On July 6, 1952, he married Dorene Allard in Gladbrook. He retired from Rockwell Collins in 1982 after 28 years.

Leonard enjoyed model railroading with his sons, gardening, repairing old radios and using his computer. He volunteered at the REACT Center in Hiawatha for the past 10 years. He was a 50 year member of Olivet Lodge #436 A.F. & A.M. at Gladbrook and a member of Kenwood Park United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. He was a former member of the Cedar Rapids Camera Club and the Cedar Rapids Area Theater Organ Society. More recently, he and his wife enjoyed ballroom dancing to Big Band music.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife of 60 years, Dorene; and two sons, David W. Dahms of Windsor, Colo. and Richard L. Dahms of Gladbrook.

The family extends a special thank you to Dr. Zenk of PCI for his compassionate care and to the Rev. Michael Metz for his many visits while Leonard was sick.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Kenwood Park United Methodist Church or Camp Courageous.

Online condolences may be directed to .

Published in The Gazette Feb. 5, 2013.