Donald C. Leinen

May 8, 1922 - October 17, 2009
Donald C. Leinen, 87, of Kalona, Iowa, formerly of Iowa City and Harper, died Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a lingering illness. A celebration of life service will be held Thursday, October 22, at 11 a.m. in Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Richmond. Fr. Rich Adam will officiate. Cremation will follow the service with inurnment at a later date in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Harper. Visitation was held Wednesday, October 21, from 4-7 p.m. at Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona with a rosary at 7 p.m. Condolences may be sent to www.peterseimfuneralhome.com. A memorial fund has been established for Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Donald C. Leinen was born May 8, 1922, in South English, Iowa, the son of John W. and Anna Britten Leinen. He was united in marriage to Darlene Steckel November 29, 1958, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Leinen farmed for 48 years until 1988 and moved to Iowa City in 1989. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and formerly St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Harper where he served as an alter boy, sang in the choir, ushered, was a trustee and served on the parish council and was a religion education teacher. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Recorder, Deputy Grand Knight, and Grand Knight. He served on the Keota/Harper School Board, volunteered at the free lunch program at Wesley House, helped rebuild Colonial Lanes Bowling Alley following a tornado. Mr. Leinen enjoyed bowling especially during Wednesday league night, gardening, growing and sharing his vegetables and playing cards.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene Leinen, Kalona; four children, Theresa (Rollin III) Howard, Sachse, Texas; Leo (Theresa) Leinen, Kalona; Matthew Leinen, Cedar Rapids; Maria (Frank) Gonzales, Wylie, Texas; nine grandchildren, Rollin IV, Joshua, Zachary, Jake, Ben, Tom, Emmalee, Brittney and Audrey; four sisters, Mary Kay Gerleman, Cedar Rapids; Eva Parrish, Cedar Rapids; Bernadette (Wilbert) Adam, Keota, Iowa; Roseanne (O.B.) Giltner, Fairtown, Ohio; two brothers, J. Arthur (Norma) Leinen, Keota; Leon (Rose) Leinen, West Des Moines, Iowa; and a sister-in-law, Jerri (Don) Moeller, Davenport, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jerome Leinen.