Leonard Linder

Leonard Lyle Linder, age 86, of Centerville, Iowa, died Thursday, November 13, 2003 at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. Linder was born on December 31, 1916 in Osceola, Iowa to Carl and Cecile (Tompkins) Linder. He graduated from the Osceola Community School in 1934 and in 1936 he graduated from Osceola Jr. College.

On June 6, 1938, Leonard was united in marriage to Kathryn Emma Neveln in Osceola. He taught school for a time in Rural Clarke County and in 1937 began working at Iowa Southern Utilities in Osceola as a Meter Reader. In 1953, Leonard moved his family to Centerville, Iowa and worked as a Systems Operating Engineer and later he became the Operations Manager. He retired from Iowa Southern Utilities in 1982. He was a member of Drake Avenue Christian Church in Centerville where he was a church Leader and sang in the church Choir for many years. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of American for his 25 years of service as a Boy Scout Leader.

Leonard was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, Kathryn Linder on August 11, 1996

He is survived by: his three sons, Lyle Linder and his wife, Kathryn of Gladstone, Missouri, Donald Linder and his wife, Sharen of Palatine, Illinois and Wayne Linder and his wife, Noel of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Bernard Linder of Osceola, Iowa; sister, Norma Corn of Grove, Oklahoma; 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 11 AM at the Drake Avenue Christian Church in Centerville, Iowa with Rev. Carl Heien Officiating. Burial will be held at 1:30 PM at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola, Iowa.

Public visitation will be held on Monday, November 17, 2003 from 9 AM until of service time at 11 AM at the Drake Avenue Christian Church. Memorials can be made to the Drake Avenue Christian Church and can be mailed to or left at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home at 501 North 18th Street in Centerville, Iowa 52544.