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Beloved husband and father, Leslie Milton Graham, 95, of Marshalltown, IA passed away Sunday, April 11, 2021, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m., until the time of the services at the church. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery with military honors provided by the Marshalltown Combined VFW and American Legion Honor Guard. Arrangements are entrusted to Anderson Funeral Homes of Marshalltown. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com
Leslie was born in Rothsay, MN, July 9, 1925, The family moved to Burt, IA where Leslie grew up in a family of five brothers and four sisters along with his parents Jay and Clara Graham. He graduated from Burt High School at the age of 16 spending the following year in his father's blacksmith shop where he honed his carpentry skills. He entered the service in 1943 at 18 during World War II and served as an Army Corporal in the 9th Infantry Division in France, Belgium and Germany. He was wounded in France at the Battle of Normandy in 1944 and received the Purple Heart. He was also awarded four Battle Stars for the Battle of Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland Battle and the Eastern Germany Battles as well as the Presidential Unit Citation of the 9th Division, The Victory Medal, and The Bronze Star.
After his discharge from the Army, he received his B.A. and Masters Degrees from the University of Northern Iowa. He was awarded a Shell Fellowship at Stanford University as well as National Science Foundations' programs to teach and further his education at Iowa State University, the University of Alabama and the University of Nevada at Reno.
He met Donna Marie Hemminger at Kirkman, IA where they were both school teachers. They were married June 10, 1951, at the Methodist Church in Harlan, IA. They lived and taught at Kirkman and Manson where he also coached Girls basketball, before moving to Marshalltown in 1957. They had three children, Melody, Paula and Brent who all graduated from Marshalltown High School. In 2001, Leslie and Donna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Fisher Community Center.
Leslie taught advanced math, trigonometry and analytic geometry at Marshalltown High School for 33 years before his retirement in 1990. He was the school sponsor of the MHS Key Club with an annual Thanksgiving feast for Exchange students and their host families. Leslie was Past President of the Iowa Math Teachers and was a life member of the NEA. He and his wife Donna enjoyed being members of many teacher groups in Marshalltown.
Leslie served as secretary of Matins Kiwanis for 23 years and was a life member of Kiwanis International. He also served as Lt. Governor of Div. 10 for the Nebraska -IA Kiwanis District. He played active roles in Kiwanis service projects such as Courthouse renovations, community parks, cabin renovations at Camp Juliette and proudly serving at the Annual Pancake Day held at the Marshalltown Coliseum. His favorite project was the Kiwanis Funnel Cake fundraising trailer that appeared a various Central Iowa fairs, festivals and RAGBRAI each year. Leslie and his wife, Donna were long time members of First United Methodist Church. They sang in the choir and served on many committees. His favorite activities were cooking the chili at the annual Soup Supper and Cookie Walk and participating in Potluck Friends including domino games. They were members of the Community Concert Series and loved all types of music especially Sousa marches, brass ensembles and barbershop quartets.
Leslie was a good carpenter and would take on construction jobs during the summers. He built pole barns and a gazebo at Grimes Farm and even a cheese factory in Lander, WY. Les loved being outdoors in his overalls and was an avid gardener at his home and also at MCC Community Gardens sharing produce with his family, friends and the community. After retirement, he served as a Field Inspector for the Iowa Crop Association. He was a great cook with his specialty of Angel Food Cake even becoming the first male contestant to win a baking blue ribbon at the Central Iowa Fair in the sixties. He was an artist along with his wife Donna and their hobbies included ceramics, woodworking, basket making, paper mache and crafting, participating in the Central Iowa Art Association and various craft festivals. Les never met a stranger and enjoyed traveling across the US and Europe and spending time with his grandchildren and reunions with a large extended family and friends.
Leslie is survived by his daughter, Melody (Richie) Wolfe of Lucas, TX, daughter, Paula Graham of Marshalltown, and son Brenton (Katie) Graham, of Barrington, New Hampshire, grandchildren Courtney (Blake) MacNelly and Brian Wolfe, and Jay and Erica Graham, sister, Helen Olsen of Blooming Prairie, MN, brother in laws, John Hemminger of Tampa, FL, Tom Johns, Omaha, NE and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna, his parents, and five brothers and three sisters.