- Born on: April 19, 1918
- Departed on: June 25, 2016
- Resided in: Gray, IA
Leon Schwab
Leon Edward Schwab was born April 19, 1918 to John Carl Schwab and Genevieve (Jenny) Crees Schwab. He had one sister, Ellowene (Sis) Schwab Horning.
Leon was born at home on a farm in Melville Township in Audubon County. His youth was spent in Melville twp. with his family living on various farms, working with his father on the farm and going to country school which he attended thru the 8th grade.
On July 3, 1940 he married Lucille Robinson, an Audubon girl he had met at the county fair. They had dated a couple of years before eloping to Maryville, MO. where they were married in a double ceremony with his younger sister Sis, and her fiancé, Virgil Horning. The couple then lived and farmed with Leon’s parents on the Schwab family farm. When his father purchased 80 acres in Viola Township they moved there. Eventually they rented their own land and were off on their own. In 1944 they had a daughter, Judith. In 1956 Leon decided to quit the farming life and move to Colorado. His parents were so against that idea that he gave in, bought a house in Audubon, where he bought and operated a Standard Oil Station. It didn’t take long to realize they didn’t really like living in town. So in 1958, when an acreage came up for sale near his parents in the Viola area, they bought that and moved back to the country. Eventually Leon sold out the gas station business and took a job working for Audubon County as a maintainer operator for Viola Township. He worked at that job until he retired in 1980. In the late 60’s they sold the acreage and moved over to Gray on the other side of the county. In the late 80’s they lived in Coon Rapids, Iowa for a few years, but when Lucille had health issues they came back to Gray to be near their daughter. Leon lived in Gray for all but the last 5 days of his life when he became so ill he had to go into the hospital and then to the Friendship Home in Audubon where his wife, Lucille, has resided for the last year and a half. He passed away Saturday, the 25th of June, 2016 at the age of 98 years and 2 months and 6 days.
Leon enjoyed fishing, taking many trips to Canada, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. For a time he even co-owned a cabin near Hayward, WI. He enjoyed traveling, taking many trips to Colorado and to the west coast.
Leon loved gadgets, always having the latest in radios, flashlights, cameras, and lawnmowers. He loved nature and animals, animals gravitated to him. There was always a cat or dog in the house; in later years there was always a cat. He loved his yardwork, mowing, pruning, planting flowers. Right up until the last week of his life he was mowing with his zero-turn mower, deadheading his peonies, and caring for his two beloved cats. He loved Bingo, at 98 he was still driving over to Coon Rapids and to Earling for a Bingo game.
He is survived by his daughter, Judith Olson and husband Roger of Gray.
Three grandchildren: Melora Barber of Nekoma, North Dakota, Bryan Olson and his wife Donna of Gray, and Jared Olson and his wife Melissa of Gray.
Eight Great-grandchildren: Matthew Olson of New Franken, WI., Mandi Berry of Audubon, Jenna Carter and her husband Mike of Minneapolis MN., Amanda Schroeder and her husband Mitchell of Northwood, Iowa, Courtney Christensen and her husband Bill of Audubon, Tyler Olson, Ciara Olson, and Caylee Olson
Nine Great-great grandchildren: Chloe Hansen, Evelyn and Dylan Carter, Casen Olson, Quinn, Emma, and triplets Walter, Lillian, and Wyatt Schroeder.
Leon was born at home on a farm in Melville Township in Audubon County. His youth was spent in Melville twp. with his family living on various farms, working with his father on the farm and going to country school which he attended thru the 8th grade.
On July 3, 1940 he married Lucille Robinson, an Audubon girl he had met at the county fair. They had dated a couple of years before eloping to Maryville, MO. where they were married in a double ceremony with his younger sister Sis, and her fiancé, Virgil Horning. The couple then lived and farmed with Leon’s parents on the Schwab family farm. When his father purchased 80 acres in Viola Township they moved there. Eventually they rented their own land and were off on their own. In 1944 they had a daughter, Judith. In 1956 Leon decided to quit the farming life and move to Colorado. His parents were so against that idea that he gave in, bought a house in Audubon, where he bought and operated a Standard Oil Station. It didn’t take long to realize they didn’t really like living in town. So in 1958, when an acreage came up for sale near his parents in the Viola area, they bought that and moved back to the country. Eventually Leon sold out the gas station business and took a job working for Audubon County as a maintainer operator for Viola Township. He worked at that job until he retired in 1980. In the late 60’s they sold the acreage and moved over to Gray on the other side of the county. In the late 80’s they lived in Coon Rapids, Iowa for a few years, but when Lucille had health issues they came back to Gray to be near their daughter. Leon lived in Gray for all but the last 5 days of his life when he became so ill he had to go into the hospital and then to the Friendship Home in Audubon where his wife, Lucille, has resided for the last year and a half. He passed away Saturday, the 25th of June, 2016 at the age of 98 years and 2 months and 6 days.
Leon enjoyed fishing, taking many trips to Canada, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. For a time he even co-owned a cabin near Hayward, WI. He enjoyed traveling, taking many trips to Colorado and to the west coast.
Leon loved gadgets, always having the latest in radios, flashlights, cameras, and lawnmowers. He loved nature and animals, animals gravitated to him. There was always a cat or dog in the house; in later years there was always a cat. He loved his yardwork, mowing, pruning, planting flowers. Right up until the last week of his life he was mowing with his zero-turn mower, deadheading his peonies, and caring for his two beloved cats. He loved Bingo, at 98 he was still driving over to Coon Rapids and to Earling for a Bingo game.
He is survived by his daughter, Judith Olson and husband Roger of Gray.
Three grandchildren: Melora Barber of Nekoma, North Dakota, Bryan Olson and his wife Donna of Gray, and Jared Olson and his wife Melissa of Gray.
Eight Great-grandchildren: Matthew Olson of New Franken, WI., Mandi Berry of Audubon, Jenna Carter and her husband Mike of Minneapolis MN., Amanda Schroeder and her husband Mitchell of Northwood, Iowa, Courtney Christensen and her husband Bill of Audubon, Tyler Olson, Ciara Olson, and Caylee Olson
Nine Great-great grandchildren: Chloe Hansen, Evelyn and Dylan Carter, Casen Olson, Quinn, Emma, and triplets Walter, Lillian, and Wyatt Schroeder.
