Obituary for Leonard “Pete” Wadle Funeral services for Leonard “Pete” Wadle will be Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Melcher-Dallas. Family will receive friends Tuesday evening at the church from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00. Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.
Leonard has asked that in lieu of flowers, he would like memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Church Restoration Project, Melcher Dallas Senior Center or the Dalcher American Legion Post. Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas is helping with the arrangements. Leonard (Pete) Wadle of Melcher-Dallas, Iowa made his heavenly journey on April 20, 2018.
He was born at home, on the Wadle farm in rural Marion County, Iowa; on November 25, 1929, to William G. and Mary Ann (Bauer) Wadle. Leonard was the eleventh of twelve children. He attended St. Joseph School at Bauer, Iowa until the 8th grade.
He graduated from Melcher High School in 1948. Following graduation, Leonard served in the United States Coast Guard to, “See the world and how other people live”. During his five years of service he was stationed in Seattle, New Orleans, and aboard the destroyer escort – USS Falgout.
Following his Honorable Discharge in 1953, he returned to the family farm to work alongside his father. In 1955, he married Norma J. Hansaker. Together they raised four children and worked the family farm.
As a young man Leonard enjoyed and excelled in athletics. He played football and basketball for Melcher High School. He was also member of the Melcher Men’s Softball team for three years and managed the Newbern Men’s team for two.
In the early 70’s his nephew Mike Hansaker introduced him to “that ridiculous game where you chase a little white ball around a cow pasture”. After teeing his first drive over the barn; he was hooked, and golf remained a passion until he reached his mid-80s. He was Coal Miners Golf Champion in both the Men’s Open and Senior Divisions and was a Pleasantville Golf and Country Club Sole-Survivor winner.
As an adult, Leonard was civic minded and involved in the Melcher-Dallas Community. After being encouraged to run for the Melcher-Dallas school board he was board chairman for eight of his nine years on the board. In the early 80’s when the old Melcher High School building was condemned and the school’s future was questionable, Leonard was ask to help in the efforts to secure a bond and manage a fund raising campaign that successfully lead to the new high school building in Melcher.
Leonard was also an active member of the Sacred Heart Parish. Over the years he served as a parish council member and held various offices as well as Council President. He taught religious education and confirmation classes, and was a lector and Eucharistic Minister.
He was a charter member of the Sacred Heart Parish Knights of Columbus; in which he held various officer positions; including President. As a farmer, he was a member of the Marion County Chapter of the National Farmer’s Organization (NFO); in which he again served as President. During his NFO tenure he was instrumental in planning “milk dumps” in support of county dairy farmers.
He also wanted everyone to know that he never joined the Farm Bureau. He spent some time working for the Marion County ASCS Extension Services measuring crop acreage production. After the national farm crisis in the mid 70’s; and selling the family farm, he spent 15 years working as a mechanic for the 3M plant in Knoxville, Iowa.
Another lifelong hobby was hunting. He loved organizing an annual deer hunt for his brothers and friends. This hunt continued to eventually include his sons, nephews, and grandsons.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he was an avid wine maker; a hobby he then passed on to his own two sons. And he always enjoyed a good game of cards. Leonard was preceded in death by Norma, his wife of 56 years; his parents; a sister, Helen; and brothers: Leo, Claude, Donald, Matthias, Ted, Paul, and Robert.
He is survived by his children: Lisa (Greg) Vander Lugt of Cascade, Iowa; Lora (John) Miller of San Antonio, Texas; Leo (Tina) Wadle of Pella, Iowa; and Leonard (Christina McPartlin) Wadle Jr. of rural Knoxville, Iowa; grandchildren: Will, Rachael, Hope, Logan, Elizabeth, Bryce and Ryan; his sister Claretta Sommar of Knoxville; his brothers Kenneth and William “Bill” (Joanne) Wadle, both of Des Moines; and numerous nieces and nephews. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Leonard “Pete” Wadle please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery G76 Melcher-Dallas, IA, 50062 , Previous Events Visitation , APR 24.
05:00 PM – 07:00 PM Sacred Heart Catholic Church 204 SW D St. Melcher-Dallas, IA, US, 50163 Service , APR 25.
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