In Memory of LeRoy Wonder

LeRoy Wonder, age 85, of Galva, Iowa, and formerly of Danbury, Iowa, died Monday, May 27, 2013, at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa.
                Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2013, at the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, Iowa, under the direction of Christensen-Huffman Funeral Homes.  The Reverend Chris Burtnett will officiate, with burial to follow in Morgan Township Cemetery, Schleswig.  Visitation will be held 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home in Ida Grove, with the family present from 6-8 p.m.
                LeRoy William Wonder was born June 7, 1927, in Soldier Township, Crawford County, Iowa, the oldest son of William C. and Clara (Kluver) Wonder.  He attended rural school in Soldier Township and graduated at the age of 15 from Schleswig High School in 1943.
                On September 10, 1946, LeRoy was united in marriage to Dorene Bennigsdorf in Schleswig.  They were blessed with five children:  Diana, Rick, Randy, Rod, and Cathy.
                LeRoy worked for Gosch Feed Store in Schleswig for a year, then was self-employed as a corn sheller and farmer in Soldier Township until retiring to Galva in 1990.  These years also included many happy memories of collecting and restoring antique tractors and other equipment.  LeRoy found special pride in his restored M.M. collection.
                He was a lifetime member of the United Church of Christ in Schleswig and was always ready for a good card game at neighborhood and family get-togethers.  Most memorable were the large Bennigsdorf family reunions as well as Ricketts and Battle Creek euchre games.
                LeRoy was preceded in death by his daughter Diane in October, 1992; his parents; an infant sister, Lois; and brothers-in-law Jack Reynolds, Gary Bennigsdorf, Dean Schmidt, and Bob Bennigsdorf and wife Marlene.
                Survivors include his wife of over 66 years, Dorene; four children, Rick (Audrey) Wonder of Ida Grove, Randy (Debby) Wonder of Redfield, Rod (Jane) Wonder of Danbury, and Cathy (David) Henningsen of Ida Grove; a son-in-law, Mel Schoeppner of Storm Lake; eight grandchildren, Greg (Jill) Wonder of Danbury, Ginger (Dan) Wych of Ida Grove, April (Jeremie) Reitz of Ida Grove, Andrea Wonder of Denison, Amber (Kyle) Lemberg of Des Moines, Nancy Henningsen and fiance Ryan Pearson of Johnston, Nicole (Keith) Carl of Lincoln, NE, and Amy Wonder of Des Moines; and 11 great-grandchildren, Zane, Ethan, Caleb, Savannah, Austin, Brody, Camden, Ava, Caden, Alexandra, and Lucas.  He is also survived by his 103-year-old aunt, Hazel Wonder of Rockford, IL; a brother, Roger Wonder of Ida Grove; a sister, Bonnie Reynolds of Ft. Collins, CO; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Leila (Bernard) Lansink of Ida Grove, Vern (Edith) Bennigsdorf of Delta, CO, Ruth Schmidt of Ida Grove, Darrell (Marlene) Bennigsdorf of Ida Grove, Russell (Clara) Bennigsdorf of Ida Grove, Carol (Maynard) Miller of Atlantic, Sharon Bennigsdorf of Ida Grove, and Lonnie (Marva) Bennigsdorf of Battle Creek; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other extended family members and a host of friends.