Leona (Bro) Mulholland Whitty

Leona Mulholland Whitty, 92, of Belmond, formerly of Kanawha, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa in Mason City, from complications of a stroke.

Memorial services for Leona Mulholland Whitty will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Kanawha United Methodist Church, 402 North Main Street in Kanawha, with Pastor Mark Heath officiating. Burial will be at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.

Leona was born on November 20, 1924, on a farm near Coon Rapids, Iowa. She was the eighth of twelve children born to Niels Christian Bro and Laura Birgitte Bro. Niels had immigrated in 1905 from Ringkobing, Denmark and her mother had immigrated from Tim, Denmark in 1909. They both had settled in southwestern Iowa.

Leona graduated from Audubon High School in 1942. She attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated with an English degree in 1946. Her first teaching job was in Kanawha, Iowa, where she met Arthur Mulholland and they were married in the summer of 1947. From this marriage came David, born 1948, Jean, born 1951 and Mary, born 1953. They farmed two and a half miles north of Kanawha until 1987 when Alzheimer's made it too difficult for Arthur to farm. Leona taught English and Speech at Kanawha Community School starting in 1965. She later also became the school librarian, having earned a M.S. in Library Science from Mankato State University.

Her husband, Arthur, died in 1992 from complications of Alzheimer's. On September 4, 1993, Leona married Tom Whitty, a farmer and former operator of the North Central Grain Company in Belmond. They made Belmond their home where they enjoyed each other's care and companionship for almost 21 years. Leona went to live at the Belmond Rehabilitation Center in 2014. Tom moved to Belle Haven Assisted Living that same year. He died in August of 2014.

Leona is survived by two children, Jean (Craig) Goepel of Britt and Mary Jo (Jon) Van Gerpen of Moscow, Idaho; five grandchildren, Stacey (Kari) Goepel of Britt, Sarah (Mark) Burger of Morrison, Colorado, Laura (Andy) Brayton of Los Angeles, California, and Stephen and Jay Van Gerpen of Moscow, Idaho. She has seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by six stepsons, Mark (Vicki) of Belmond, Iowa; Thomas Robert (Sue) of Lebanon, Missouri; David (Pat) of Lancaster, Wisconsin; Richard (Sue) of Dubuque, Iowa; Cary (Renee) of Harvard, Illinois; and Daniel (Stacey) of Streamwood, Illinois; 17 step grandchildren, and 21 step great grandchildren. Leona is survived by two brothers, Frank (Ora Mae) Bro of Toledo, Iowa and Ronald (Mary) Bro of Cedar Falls, Iowa. One son (David), two sisters, and 7 brothers have preceded her in death.

Although Leona had been on dialysis for twelve years, traveling to Mason City three times a week, she remained engaged in life, interested in current events and politics and interested in the people with whom she interacted. She carried a great fondness for the Kanawha Methodist Church.

The family wishes to give special thanks to the Belmond Rehabilitation Center, Mercy Dialysis Center, and her two long time drivers, Lou Banta and Rose Mickelson that drove her to Mason City, to medical appointments, and emergency hospital visits.

Memorials may be directed to Kanawha United Methodist Church or donor's choice of charity.