Obituary

Leora J. Sullivan, 93, of Arlington, Iowa, formerly of Minonk, died Monday morning (Nov. 28, 2016) at Mercy Living Plus, Oelwein, Iowa.

Leora Josephine Oldenburg was born on Feb. 18, 1923, in Hartley, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Josephine Mernitz Oldenburg. At a young age, she moved with her family to a farm near Rutland. She attended school in Rutland, graduating from Rutland High School. Leora was united in marriage to Merle Randall Sullivan on Oct. 19, 1941, at the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Minonk. The first years of their marriage, Leora worked at Morrison's and then at a Minonk restaurant. She then followed Merle to Camp Roberts in California, where she worked in the camp office until 1946. They returned to Minonk, where she again worked at Morrison's.

In 1952, Leora and Merle moved to Iowa and farmed near Randalia and Arlington until retirement. In the late 1950s, Leora went back to school and graduated from Upper Iowa in Fayette in 1961. She taught at Randalia, Arlington and Garnavillo. She enjoyed her years as a teacher and loved working with her junior high students. She was an active member of the Arlington United Methodist Church where she played organ for many years. She was also a 4-H leader and was active in the Fayette County Farm Bureau.

Leora was the second youngest of 10 children, her youngest sister, Lillian Janssen, is her only sibling survivor. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Leora was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merle, on May 16, 2004; four brothers, Carl, Robert, Arthur and Walter Oldenburg; and four sisters, Esther Uphoff, Edith Driscall, Ruth Oldenburg and Lucile Oldenburg.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Minonk, with the Rev. Ed Sinclair officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in Minonk Township Cemetery.

Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Minonk, is assisting with Leora's care. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Condolences may be sent to www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.