MASON CITY, IOWA - Leonard John Mayer, 81, of 1021 North Pierce Avenue, Mason City, died Monday, September 25, 2006, at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.
A funeral mass was held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 29, 2006 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 North Adams Avenue, Mason City, with Rev. Jon M. Seda, officiating. Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, 412 N Broadway Street, Manly, with military honors being conducted by the Osage VFW.
Leonard John Mayer was born on June 24, 1925, at Stacyville; son of Paul and Anna (Meyer) Mayer. As a young boy Leonard moved with his family to Riceville, where he attended school. He enlisted in the US Army and served his country during WWII in the Philippines. After his honorable discharge in 1946 he returned to Riceville. He was united in marriage to Charlene Van Every in 1949. Leonard farmed in the Riceville area and worked at Oliver Implement in Charles City for several years. He retired from farming full time in 1973 and continued to hobby farm for many years. In 2004, he moved to Mason City.
He loved his family, country, and church. He was a life long member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Riceville, and most recently Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City. Leonard was a member of the Osage VFW and Riceville American Legion.
Leonard is survived by his special friend, Claretta Riha, Mason City; four children, Jerry (Janet) Mayer, Winterset; Carol (LeRoy) Janssen, Osage; Randy (Dorothy) Mayer, Riceville; and Crystal Pope, Mason City; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Miller, John and Michelle Janssen, Shawn Mayer, Kari and Karl Kozak, and Christopher Pope; six great grandchildren, Jeneca and Michelle Miller, Jessie Gerdes, Cheyenne Cullen, Dalton Janssen, and Brennan Mayer; one brother, Bill (Marvel) Mayer, Riceville; three sisters, Ruth Condon, New Haven; Kathleen Hummel, Riceville; and Mary Shane, Riceville; brother in law, Dick Niedert, Waterloo; sister in law, Myrna Mayer, Portland, OR; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Anna; brothers, Charles, Jackie, Donny, and Marvin; and sisters, JoAnn and Gladys.