Freddie Leerar

Freddie Leerar, 78, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 1997, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa.

Freddie, the son of Joseph and Tina (Sweers) Leerar, was born March 3, 1919, on a farm near Stilson, Iowa. He attended country schools.

On April 11, 1942, he was united in marriage with Elsie Hampe in Bethany, Missouri.  Freddie served in the U.S. Army 432nd Air Force in England from 1942 to 1945.  In his unit #381st Bombardment Group, he received four overseas service bars, the European-African-Middle Eastern with 6 bronze stars and a Good Conduct Medal.  The couple started farming between Britt and Kanawha in 1947.  Freddie played softball all over the area, as a pitcher for many years.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He enjoyed fishing and bowling.  Freddie was always busy helping his neighbors with their farm work.  He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion in Britt.

Freddie is survived by his wife, Elsie of Kanawha; two daughters: Betty Bublitz and her husband, David of Marion, Iowa; Patricia Sutton and her husband, Perry of Waterloo, Iowa; three sons: Dick and his wife, Judy; Robert and his wife, Barbara; Craig and his wife, Marlene, all of Britt; sixteen grandchildren: Brian, Randy, Nicole, Jennifer, Christopher, Ethan, Kristy, Kari, Stephanie, Bobby Jo, Angie, Joe, Becca, Nicholas, Michelle and Paul; four great-grandchildren: Seth, Sam, Rachel, and Brady; two sisters: Esther Munson of Mason City, Iowa; Caroline Slagle of  Missoula, Montana; one brother: Jake Leerar of Kanawha, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was precede in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.