Marion Leroy Leichty of Kalona, formally of Noble, Iowa, passed away peacefully at University of Iowa Hospital on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
A celebration of life was held Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at the Bethel Church in Wayland. Private family burial was at the Bethel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Crooked Creek Christian Camp. The Beatty Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Marion was born May 7, 1934, on the family farm in Noble, Iowa, to Henry E. and Leona (Miller) Leichty. He was the sixth of 13 children. He graduated from Wayland High School in 1952. He served his 1-W alternative service at the Oakdale Tuberculosis Hospital in Oakdale, Iowa.
On July 3, 1955, he married Marlene Yoder in Kalona, Iowa. They lived in Wayland, Iowa, until moving to Albany, Ore. While there, he completed his apprenticeship laying ceramic tile and marble. In 1969, they returned to Iowa to become the third generation on the Century Noble Farm while raising their children: Anthony, Lanol and Christine.
Farming was his passion and his uncanny mechanical skills allowed him to repair or build almost anything. In 1989, he and Marlene began working as co-managers for Holiday Retirement in Iowa, Illinois and Oregon. In 1993, they returned to the farm and he spent seven years doing maintenance at Crooked Creek Camp before ‘retiring’ to help his brother farm in the spring and fall.
He was a very active member of the Washington Mennonite Church, where he served as an elder and he and Marlene served as youth sponsors. He served with the following: as a Marion township trustee, as secretary on the Parkview Retirement board, with the Mennonite Disaster Service and at Crowded Closet. Many winters were spent in Glendale, Ariz., where he volunteered at Glencroft Retirement Facility.
Marion enjoyed farming and working in his woodworking shop. He was dedicated to the Lord and was a prayer warrior.
Survivors include his cherished wife of 64 years: Marlene; sons: Anthony of Klawock, Alaska and Lanol of Lakeville, Minn.; daughter: Christine Cahoe of Louisville, Ky.; and their spouses; seven grandchildren; two great-grandsons; eight brothers; and one sister.
