Nelson Frank LeClere
Nelson Frank LeClere
Prairieburg
Nelson Frank LeClere, 90, of Prairieburg, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at his home. Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City, Iowa. A Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 29, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 300 West Avenue in Prairieburg, where an additional visitation will take place for one hour prior to the Mass. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, in Prairieburg.
Nelson was born on May 23, 1933, in Delaware County, Iowa, the son of Ray H. and Minerva S. (Ratcliff) LeClere. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1953 to 1955, until he was honorably discharged. On November 15, 1954, Nelson was united in marriage to Mary Lorraine Beranek in Prairieburg. Upon returning from the service, Nelson worked for Iowa Milling Company, and then with Cargill for 43 years and 2 months, until his retirement in 1995. Nelson was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he was very active, serving on the church council, and caretaker of the church and school. For many years, Nelson served on the City Council of Prairieburg and later became the Mayor of Prairieburg for several years. He was very influential with the building of the new Prairieburg City Hall. Nelson was also a member of the Central City American Legion Post 421. He loved being outdoors, mowing lawns, fox hunting, fishing, and raising tumbler pigeons. Most of all, Nelson loved spending time with his family and caring for them. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Nelson is survived and lovingly remembered by his children, Wanda Silver (Jim Liuzzo) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Steven (Kathy) LeClere of Prairieburg, Linda (Jeff) Holub of Central City, and Ronald LeClere of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Lorraine; three sisters, Merna Veverka, Merla May Russell, and Nona Donegan; brother, Manly Ray LeClere; and one great-grandchild.
Memorials in Nelson’s memory may be directed to Camp Courageous.
Please share a memory of Nelson at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.