Leone Weinheimer

Leone Weinheimer, 80, of Greenfield, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at Creston Regional Hospital after a short battle with cancer.

Leone Lee Weinheimer was born July 30, 1940, along with two sisters, making her a triplet, in Belmond. Their parents were Archie and Hilda Lee. She was resilient from an early age, surviving whooping cough when many in her generation didn’t, including her infant sisters. She attended St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Belmond, where she was baptized on August 15, 1940, and confirmed on May 29, 1955. One of her fondest memories growing up was when her dad made a swimming pool out of a stock tank, and the neighbor kids and cousins would come over to swim.

Leone attended country school and graduated from Belmond High School in 1958. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City for a year, and worked at Tomco Company in Belmond for two years. During this time, she met the love of her life, Leo Weinheimer, in Clear Lake.

Leone and Leo married Oct. 6, 1962, and made their home in rural Fontanelle on Leo’s family’s farm. Leone assisted Leo on the farm, turning sows in and out of the hog house twice a day and cleaning their pens.

In 1963, their first child Brian was born and in 1966, their second child John was born. 1969 brought the arrival of their baby girl, Jill.

Faith, family and friends were very important to Leone, and it shone through in how she lived her life. Leone made her church home Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, where she and Leo have been very active. She taught Bible school, made and served funeral lunches, participated in Bible study circle and GROW church activities. She would greet people with a smile on Sunday mornings at church, whether it was her official Sunday to greet or not.

Leone had a flair for gardening, both vegetables and flowers. Her wildflowers really brightened the rural road they lived on. When not driving children to activities, volunteering in her church and community, and gardening, Leone could be found in the kitchen cooking or baking a pie. Organizations Leone was involved in over the years include TOPS/KOPS and Adair County Pork Producers. She and Leo served in the pork tent at the Iowa State Fair for over 20 years. Leo and Leone also enjoyed their neighborhood group KYN in the country.

Leone worked in various ways over the years selling Avon, cleaning houses and babysitting. Her biggest joy was helping family members by babysitting grandchildren and later going to their sports and music activities.

In 2013, Leo and Leone moved to Greenfield after retiring from the farm. There she continued her talent of gardening and sharing the bounty with friends and family.

She is survived by her husband Leo of Greenfield; son Brian (Susan) Weinheimer of Creston; son John (Tracey) Weinheimer of Greenfield; daughter Jill (Joseph) Ellsworth of Grimes; grandson Logan Ellsworth of Ankeny; grandson Beau Weinheimer of Greenfield; granddaughter Reagan Weinheimer of Greenfield; granddaughter Lindsay (Jim) Ide of Shannon City; granddaughter Lauren Knobbe (Ryan) of Guthrie Center; great-grandchildren Claire Ide, Clark Knobbe and Grant Ide and several nieces and nephews.

Leone was welcomed into heaven by her parents, Archie and Hilda Lee; sister Donna Goeman; sister Phyllis Shook, sister-in-law Janet Wickert; infant sisters Lois and Lavonne Lee; brothers-in-law: Virgil Wickert, Carl Schwartz, James Meisenheimer and Richard Goeman Sr.; nephew Richard Goeman Jr. and niece Judy Schwartz.

Family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 14, 2021, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate.

Steen Funeral Home is in charge of professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be given to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, www.fontanellelutheran.org.