Edward "Ed" Zeno Leinen
December 31, 1934 — June 5, 2016
Edward “Ed” Zeno Leinen was born on December 31, 1934 to Nicholas and Agnes (Kenkel) Leinen in Earling, Iowa. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and graduated with the Class of 1955. In 1957, Ed was drafted into the Army and served until October of 1959. After his honorable discharge, he returned to the family farm.
On June 20, 1981, Ed was united in marriage to Carol Kramer Cairney, daughter of Mike and Madonna Kramer. To this union one daughter was born, Barbara. He was also father to Carol’s two children: Tami and Jason Cairney.
Ed farmed until 1984 when he and Carol bought a bar and operated that until 1993. Ed’s love, besides his wife and children, was the Chicago Cubs. He was a lifelong fan. He did get to Wrigley Field on Father’s Day 2006. He also enjoyed playing baseball and basketball until an accident ended his career in 1966. After his recovery, he continued to coach both sports. He continued coaching when Tami, Jason, and Barbi reached playing age. He hung up his cleats and basketball shoes in 1996, when he moved to Harlan after living in Earling his entire life.
He started a job that he really liked, at the state rest area by Neola, Iowa and worked there until his retirement in 2006. He then devoted his summer time to his recliner watching the Chicago Cubs and the winter to the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams. He still coached, but from his recliner, where only his family could hear him. He was a member of the Earling American Legion Post Number 615 and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council Number 1741.
Ed became a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Community in January of this year after suffering a stroke. This is where he died on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at the age of eighty-one years, five months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jason Cairney, brothers: LaVern, Leo, and Nick, sisters: Irene Mahlberg, Cecelia Buckley, and Sally Dillemuth, father-in-law Mike Kramer, and several nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife Carol Leinen of Harlan, Iowa; daughters Barbi Leinen of Harlan and Tami and her husband Curt Becker of Glenwood, Iowa; three grandchildren: McKenzie, Jenna and Lauren; brother Alfred Leinen and his wife Joan of Earling, Iowa; sisters LaVina Schwarte Blum of Dunlap, Iowa and Rosemary Rehberg of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; mother-in-law Madonna Kramer of Earling, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Estelle Leinen of Dow City, Iowa, Connie Kramer and Lori and her husband Tom Svagera all of Omaha, Nebraska, Kathy and her husband Dave Huntington of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Sandy and her husband Lee Ring of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Deb and her husband Larry Heller of Dunlap; brother-in-law Rick Kramer and his wife Karla of Harlan; many nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
On June 20, 1981, Ed was united in marriage to Carol Kramer Cairney, daughter of Mike and Madonna Kramer. To this union one daughter was born, Barbara. He was also father to Carol’s two children: Tami and Jason Cairney.
Ed farmed until 1984 when he and Carol bought a bar and operated that until 1993. Ed’s love, besides his wife and children, was the Chicago Cubs. He was a lifelong fan. He did get to Wrigley Field on Father’s Day 2006. He also enjoyed playing baseball and basketball until an accident ended his career in 1966. After his recovery, he continued to coach both sports. He continued coaching when Tami, Jason, and Barbi reached playing age. He hung up his cleats and basketball shoes in 1996, when he moved to Harlan after living in Earling his entire life.
He started a job that he really liked, at the state rest area by Neola, Iowa and worked there until his retirement in 2006. He then devoted his summer time to his recliner watching the Chicago Cubs and the winter to the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams. He still coached, but from his recliner, where only his family could hear him. He was a member of the Earling American Legion Post Number 615 and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council Number 1741.
Ed became a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Community in January of this year after suffering a stroke. This is where he died on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at the age of eighty-one years, five months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jason Cairney, brothers: LaVern, Leo, and Nick, sisters: Irene Mahlberg, Cecelia Buckley, and Sally Dillemuth, father-in-law Mike Kramer, and several nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife Carol Leinen of Harlan, Iowa; daughters Barbi Leinen of Harlan and Tami and her husband Curt Becker of Glenwood, Iowa; three grandchildren: McKenzie, Jenna and Lauren; brother Alfred Leinen and his wife Joan of Earling, Iowa; sisters LaVina Schwarte Blum of Dunlap, Iowa and Rosemary Rehberg of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; mother-in-law Madonna Kramer of Earling, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Estelle Leinen of Dow City, Iowa, Connie Kramer and Lori and her husband Tom Svagera all of Omaha, Nebraska, Kathy and her husband Dave Huntington of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Sandy and her husband Lee Ring of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Deb and her husband Larry Heller of Dunlap; brother-in-law Rick Kramer and his wife Karla of Harlan; many nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
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