Leonard J. Macal, age 92, of Cresco, IA, died Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at Evans Memorial Home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held from 3:30 to 7: 00 P.M. on Friday, October 5, 2018, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco. Memorial service will be held at Notre Dame Parish on Saturday, October 6, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. with visitation continuing for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Leonard John Macal was born January 4, 1926, the son of William and Rose (Lukas) Macal on the family farm east of Ridgeway. Leonard attended the country school and after completing 8th grade, stayed home to help his mother and siblings farm, as they lost their Dad when he was 8 years old. For vacation they attended the Saturday night movies at the Ridgeway Town Hall and the wedding dances at the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville.
It was there that he met his future wife, Doris. Leonard was married to Doris Schwade on June 10, 1947, at St. Wenceslaus Church in Spillville. They lived on various farms in the Ridgeway-Spillville area until purchasing their own farm in 1967 northwest of Ridgeway.
They were dairy and crop farmers with the help of their 7 children. Due to health reasons they sold their farm and moved to Cresco in 1985. Leonard worked for the former Carlson Co. for 7 summers, delivered trailers locally for Featherlite, drove cars from the auction sales for Cresco Motor Co., and worked for Manpower at Camcar.
He enjoyed working in their garden and his rhubarb patch and mowing the lawn on his John Deere lawnmower. Anything to keep him busy as he was always used to working. Leonard and Doris were funeral ushers, gave rides to church or doctor appointments, and set up card parties at church.
He liked dancing with his wife of 71 years and listening to good Old Time Music. Leonard also enjoyed playing cards, reading, fishing, visiting with people, but most of all the family gatherings. He is survived by his wife Doris Macal of Cresco, IA; 7 children Dave (Karen) Macal of Ridgeway, IA, Diane Graves of Belvidere, IL, Donna (Ernie Hahn) Macal of Platteville, CO, Darla (Wayne) Vokaty of Cresco, IA, Denise (Fred Smith) Macal of Cresco, IA, Dorene (Frank) McCoy of Leaf River, IL, and Deb (John) Olsgard of Decorah, IA; 8 grandchildren Mike (Mel) Macal, Jenni Shaw, Trevor (April) Graves, Sarah (Phil) Pfannebecker, Maddi McCoy, Gunnar McCoy, Jason (Jackie) Olsgard, and Ashley Olsgard; 7 great grandchildren Jay, Jenaya, Abby, Darien, Liz, Jacob, and Justin; 3 step-great grandchildren Jesse, Justine, and Jenny; 1 step-great great grandson Gavin; 2 sisters Irene Haskovec of Cresco, IA and Helen (Henry) Schwartz of Seattle, WA; sisters-in-law Imogene Macal, Rita Kuehner and Dolores Schwade; and brother-in-law Ermin Schwade.
Leonard is preceded in death by his parents and father and mother-in-law William and Ludmilla Schwade; son-in-law Gary Graves; 2 sisters Agnes (Gerhard) Hellen and Evelyn (Vic) Kovarik; 2 brothers William Jr. in infancy and Roy Macal; brothers and sisters-in-law Mildred (Raymond) Riehle, Leonard Haskovec, Leonard Kuehner, Gene (Joan) Schwade, Mary Schwade, Lauretta (Paul) Barta, and Lynn Schwade.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
