Leonard Klinefelter

Leonard Klinefelter, 94, passed away at the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center on January 13, 2010. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 18, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A time of fellowship and refreshments with the family will immediately follow at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Grundy Center. Visitation will be held from 2-4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Memorials may be directed to the Mayo Clinic Alzheimers Research or the Evening Lions Club. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Leonard and his family. Ph 641-844-1234. He was born on July 17, 1915, to Ira and Bessie (Wiley) Klinefelter, and they resided on a farm near Grundy Center, Iowa. He graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1932. Leonard began his career at Farmers Savings Bank in Grundy Center in 1936 and then was employed at John Deere Waterloo Works prior to entering the United States Army in 1945, stationed in El Paso, Texas where he was main chapel organist. Returning home after the service, he was Chief Executive Officer of the Farmers Savings Bank in Beaman for 27 years. Leonard then managed Acme Piano and Organ in Marshalltown for five years, winning four trips to Europe in sales. Upon retirement he tuned many pianos in Marshalltown and the outlying areas. He was a wonderful musician and was organist of First Baptist Church in Grundy Center for 25 years where he was a member. He also played piano and organ at many weddings, funerals and other events throughout the area. He and his wife Evelyn traveled with their Airstream trailer and spent many summers in Estes Park, CO. He was also active in the Marshalltown Evening Lions Club. Leonard was a recent resident of the Villa del Sol in Marshalltown. Leonard married Evelyn Phillips on June 15, 1939, and they recently celebrated 70 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, who resides at Bickford Cottage in Marshalltown and two daughters: Rae Jean (Jim) Draper of Dubuque and Jana Lyn (Alan) Miller of Loveland, CO. He also leaves behind three grandchildren: Scott Draper of Ames, Holly Michel of Denver and Jill Schmidt of Minneapolis plus four great-grandchildren.