Verlee Leinen
April 21, 1941 — June 29, 2007
Verlee Leinen was born on April 21, 1941, to Zeno and Viola (Schwery) Leinen on a farm near Portsmouth, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth and attended school at St. Mary�s Catholic School.
After her graduation from high school in 1959, she attended Marycrest College in Davenport. She transferred to Iowa State University where she graduated in 1963 with her degree in Home Economics. Verlee did her post-graduate work in Vermillion, South Dakota, Laramie, Wyoming, and Fairbanks, Alaska. Her first teaching position was in Ottawa, Illinois, where she stayed for three years. She then spent time teaching in Klickitat, Washington, Window Rock, Arizona, and Valdez, Alaska.
Verlee worked as a recreational therapist at Harbor View Hospital in Valdez for four years, then operated the Serendipity Gift Shop on Richardson Highway 45 miles outside the city of Valdez for approximately ten years. In 1989, she went to Prince William Sound, Alaska, to help with the Valdez oil spill.
She moved to Anchorage and worked for Hope Cottages, a residential facility providing community services to individuals with developmental disabilities. She also worked at the Anchorage School District at Bartlett High School performing many of the same duties as she did at Hope Cottages.
Verlee loved the outdoors. Her hobbies were fishing and hunting, especially big game such as moose and bear. She also liked cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.
Verlee died on Friday, June 29, 2007, in Anchorage, Alaska, having attained the age of sixty-six years, two months, and eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Linda Daoust.
She is survived by her brothers and sisters: Ursula Bruck of Portsmouth, Iowa, James Leinen and his wife Dorothy of Denison, Iowa, Orville Leinen and his wife Kathleen of Panora, Iowa, Harvey Leinen and his wife Charlotte of Harlan, Iowa, Eunice Blum and her husband Gilbert Loeffler of Panama, Iowa, Mildred and her husband Jerry Brus of Denison, and Zita and her husband Gaylen Smith of Portsmouth; her brother-in-law Mark Daoust of Atlantic, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, July 6, 2007, with Rev. John Dorton officiating the 10:30 AM service at St. Mary�s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Jeff Leinen, Richard Prososki, Scott Leinen, and her godson from Russia, Paul. Serving as casket bearers were Brian Daoust, Roger Leinen, David Smith, John Bruck, Roger Blum, and Jerry Brus. Interment was held at St. Mary�s Cemetery in Portsmouth.
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After her graduation from high school in 1959, she attended Marycrest College in Davenport. She transferred to Iowa State University where she graduated in 1963 with her degree in Home Economics. Verlee did her post-graduate work in Vermillion, South Dakota, Laramie, Wyoming, and Fairbanks, Alaska. Her first teaching position was in Ottawa, Illinois, where she stayed for three years. She then spent time teaching in Klickitat, Washington, Window Rock, Arizona, and Valdez, Alaska.
Verlee worked as a recreational therapist at Harbor View Hospital in Valdez for four years, then operated the Serendipity Gift Shop on Richardson Highway 45 miles outside the city of Valdez for approximately ten years. In 1989, she went to Prince William Sound, Alaska, to help with the Valdez oil spill.
She moved to Anchorage and worked for Hope Cottages, a residential facility providing community services to individuals with developmental disabilities. She also worked at the Anchorage School District at Bartlett High School performing many of the same duties as she did at Hope Cottages.
Verlee loved the outdoors. Her hobbies were fishing and hunting, especially big game such as moose and bear. She also liked cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.
Verlee died on Friday, June 29, 2007, in Anchorage, Alaska, having attained the age of sixty-six years, two months, and eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Linda Daoust.
She is survived by her brothers and sisters: Ursula Bruck of Portsmouth, Iowa, James Leinen and his wife Dorothy of Denison, Iowa, Orville Leinen and his wife Kathleen of Panora, Iowa, Harvey Leinen and his wife Charlotte of Harlan, Iowa, Eunice Blum and her husband Gilbert Loeffler of Panama, Iowa, Mildred and her husband Jerry Brus of Denison, and Zita and her husband Gaylen Smith of Portsmouth; her brother-in-law Mark Daoust of Atlantic, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, July 6, 2007, with Rev. John Dorton officiating the 10:30 AM service at St. Mary�s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Jeff Leinen, Richard Prososki, Scott Leinen, and her godson from Russia, Paul. Serving as casket bearers were Brian Daoust, Roger Leinen, David Smith, John Bruck, Roger Blum, and Jerry Brus. Interment was held at St. Mary�s Cemetery in Portsmouth.
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