Obituaries : Elma Lucille McLeod

Elma Lucille McLeod, 92 of Belle Paine, IA passed away July 30, 2021, at Compass Memorial Hospital, Marengo, IA.

Elma was born January 10, 1929, to Merle and Maggie (Pickering) Chacey in Ollie, IA. She graduated from Ollie High School and attended Business College in Des Moines. On September 19, 1948, Elma married Howard Eugene McLeod at Christ United Methodist Church, Belle Plaine. Together they worked and raised their children on a farm north of Belle Plaine. After moving to town Elma was a bookkeeper for Kaloupek Ins. and Fronings Western Grain Co., retiring in 1991.

Elma was an excellent cook, passing her recipes on to family. She was a very skilled seamstress, from sewing her children's clothes while they were young to their wedding dresses. Elma was always being frugal, even winning an award for repurposing her children's clothes to summer clothes then to potholders. She was thoughtful of others delivering kolaches and jams and crocheting afghans for many. She loved spending time with family and never forgot to send a birthday card to all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Elma was active in many clubs and organizations throughout her life, one of the more recent the Traveling Pepper Club which she truly enjoyed playing with family. Elma was committed to her faith by attending Grace Community Church.

She is survived by her children, Dennis (Theresa) McLeod of Belle Plaine, Sharon (Tom) Townsend of St. Ansgar, Bev (Don) Drahos of Belle Plaine and Becky (Craig) Sayre of Lake Thunderhead, MO; 20 grandchildren, and 41 great-grandchildren.

Elma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard (2000); daughter-in-law, Teresa (Mulherin) McLeod; son-in-law, Terryl Prusha; granddaughter, Elizabeth Drahos; and sister, Ruth Beck.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at Grace Community Church, Belle Plaine with Don Drahos officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Monday, August 2nd at Grace Community Church. Memorials may be directed to the Belle Plaine Ambulance Service. Online Condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhausfuneralservice.com