William "Bill" Leerar, the son of Joseph and Tena (Sweers) Leerar, was born on July 7, 1908, in Erin Township, Hancock County, Iowa.  He attended country schools south of Britt.  As a young man he worked for several farmers south of Britt.  He started farming on his own in the early 1930's.  On January 29, 1936, he was united in marriage to Ann Davids at Waterloo, Iowa.  They established their home on a farm in Erin township.  In 1944 they purchased a farm southwest of Crystal Lake.  They remained on the farm until their retirement in 1972, when they moved into Crystal Lake.  He served on the Crystal Lake School Board, Crystal Lake Creamery Board, held numerous offices in the United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, where he also taught adult Sunday school.  He enjoyed traveling, reading, working the soil and making things, and was an aircraft pilot.  His wife Ann died on January 8, 1996. He is survived by four children: Raymond, wife Beverly of Alsip, Illinois; Marvin, wife Catherine of Clifton, Virginia; Roger, wife Marilyn, of Britt, Iowa; Kathryn of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; two brothers: Jake and Fred both of Kanawha, Iowa; and two sisters: Esther Monson, Mason City, Iowa; and Caroline Slagle, Missoula, Montana; ten grandchildren, one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, three brothers, two sisters and his parents.