Leona F. Hedlund

Leona Hedlund, age 81, of Emerson, Iowa, passed away on April 8, 2009 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa.

Leona Faye Hedlund, the oldest of eight children of Margaret Ellen (Stogdill) and Warren Leonard Stogdill, was born in Lancaster, Missouri on May 29, 1937. When Leona was three years old, her family moved to Bloomfield, Iowa where she attended school.

Following school, Leona and Jack Elston Hanshaw were married in Waras, Mexico. Jack was in the military and the couple made their home wherever Jack was stationed. Their marriage was blessed with seven children; William Lonnie, Joseph Elston, Douglas Alan, Stacy James, Debra Lynn, Brian Curtis, and Michael Todd. Jack and Leona later divorced.

On June 28, 1974, Leona and Lloyd Earl "Red" Hedlund of Emerson, Iowa, were united in marriage in Pacific Junction, Iowa. They made their home in Emerson along with Leona's younger children.

Leona loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She was a compassionate person and it was shown as she cared for Bud Hertz of Malvern, Iowa, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Leona later worked at Pamida and HyVee and eventually at the Good Samaritan Center in Red Oak, Iowa. She once again showed her compassion as she worked as a nurses' aid and then as a physical therapist at Good Sam for ten years. Due to health problems, Leona gave up her work at Good Sam. Leona also enjoyed gardening and loved all flowers, especially roses. She was a member of the Eagles Club in Red Oak.

Leona and Red had been married 35 years at the time of her death. She passed away at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak on April 8, 2009, at the age of 71 years, 10 months, and 9 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; stepsons, Claude Hedlund and Darrell Hedlund; brother Danny Stogdill and sister Lana Harding; brothers-in-law, Leonard Hedlund and Larry Hedlund.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Hedlund of Emerson; her sons, Lonnie Hanshaw and wife Debbie of Red Oak, IA, Joe Hanshaw and wife Pam of Council Bluffs, IA, Doug Hanshaw and wife Deb of Omaha, NE, Stacy Hanshaw of Shelby, IA, Brian Hanshaw and wife Kim of Villisca, IA, Michael Hanshaw and wife Quanda of Mitchell, SD; daughter Debbie Johnson and husband Steve of Joplin, MO; step-children, Lloyd Hedlund, Jr. and wife Rosie, and Cheryl Trigg and husband Kevin, all of Moorcroft, WY , Paul Hedlund of Emerson, IA; step-daughter-in-law Ruth Hedlund of Shelby, IA; 30 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; sisters, Ann Pickle and husband Jim of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and Nina Wages of Ottumwa, IA; brothers, Bud Stogdill and wife Shari, and Gary Stogdill and wife Jenny, all of Nicholasville, KY, and James Stogdill and wife Linda of St. James, MO; sisters-in-law, Deb Stogdill of Hawkins, TX, Joanna Hedlund of Shenandoah, IA, and Vera Crom and husband Geary of Murray, NE; brothers-in-law, Lee Hedlund and wife Luella of Rockport, TX, Lonnie Hedlund and wife Retha of Pineville, LA, Lyle Hedlund and wife DeDe of Carter Lake, IA; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Interment in the Malvern Cemetery.