Obituaries : Lenard J. Armstrong

Lenard J. Armstrong

ATKINS: Lenard J. Armstrong, 82, died Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids following an extended illness.

To honor Lenard's wishes a brief Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 12, 2011 at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins with Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Interment will be held at St. Stephen's Cemetery near Atkins with Graveside Military Rites conducted by Adolph H. Schueler American Legion Post #217 and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Lenard's family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the church in Atkins. Phillips Funeral in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.

Lenard was born July 30, 1928 in Cedar Rapids to Elton and Mildred (Yilek) Armstrong. He served his nation in the US Air Force during the Korean War and was a member of the Adolph H. Schueler American Legion Post 217 of Atkins.

On My 7, 1955 he was united in marriage to Alice DeKlotz at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins. She preceded him in death on April 27, 1997. Lenard and Dorothy Gillis Rathje were married on January 9, 1999 at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins.

Lenard farmed in the Atkins area and served as a bus driver in Atkins for the Benton Community School District for forty-one years prior to his retirement in 1992. He was an active member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church where he served his congregation as a Trustee and as a member of the Finance Committee. Lenard was also an active member of the Atkins Community.

Lenard is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Atkins; his daughters, Kris Armstrong of Atkins, Kim (Gary) Spiess of Lisbon, and Kay (Ed) Bartholomew of Montrose; grandchildren, Jenny (Tony) Frey, Nicole and Allison Spiess, Megan and Bryce Bartholomew; three great-grandchildren; step-children, Marvin (Sandy) Rathje of Anamosa, Melvin (Elaine) Rathje of Macon, GA, Jeff (Tammy) Rathje of Watkins, and Jolene Rathje of North Liberty; step-grandchildren, Melissa (Jeff) Smith, Marsha (David) Wimer, Amanda Rathje, Matt (Johnna) Rathje, Josh (Camilla) Rathje, and Adam and Robert Rathje; three step- great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Rudin.

A memorial fund has been established.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com