Eugene LeClere

EUGENE LECLERE

Hopkinton

Eugene LeClere, 78, of Hopkinton, died Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, at Jones Regional Medical Center, Anamosa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Hopkinton Community Church. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. The United States Air Force will accord military honors at the church. Interment will be in the Hopkinton Cemetery.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are his wife, Annie; four children, Jean (Greg) Dirks, Judy (Don Scherrer) Chapman, both of Monticello, Chuck LeClere, Denver, Colo., and Paul LeClere, Hopkinton; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and seven siblings, Lawrence (Zetta), Hopkinton, Ron (Deb), Buck Creek, Barney (Esther), Monticello, Berneice Friest, Phoenix, Ariz., Charlene Goodreau, Cedar Rapids, Eula Svehla, Las Vegas, Nev., and James of Scotch Grove.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dale; and a son-in-law, Wayne Chapman.

Eugene L. LeClere was born Oct. 22, 1935, at Manchester, Iowa. He was the son of Otto and Bessie Glanz LeClere. Eugene graduated from the Hopkinton High School in 1953. In 1955, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, making it a 20-year career. He was stationed in Germany in 1956 where he met his bride, Annie Kappfer. The couple were married Feb. 15, 1958. Eugene died on their 56th anniversary.

Eugene was stationed in Hawaii, Virginia and California, before his last station at Omaha, Neb., in 1972. The couple moved the family to Hopkinton in 1972 and Eugene commuted to base, until he retired in 1976. Eugene then worked at Bacon Salvage Yard, the Swiss Valley Cheese Plant for 17 years and Permeate Refining, all in Hopkinton.