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Leroy F. Mineart
Dec. 10, 1918 – Oct. 27, 2010

Me playing with my grandpa in January 1971

Leroy F. Mineart, 91, of Brighton, died at 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010, at Halcyon House in Washington.

A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Saints Joseph and Cabrini Church in East Pleasant Plain, with the Rev. Charles J. Fladung officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain.

Open visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at the church, with the family present from 5-8 p.m. and Prayers For A Christian Wake at 7 p.m.

Memorials to St. Joseph Cemetery may be left at the church or may be mailed to the family at 1022 Spruce Ave., Brighton 52540.

Arrangements are in the care of Gould Funeral Home of Brighton.

Mr. Mineart was born Dec. 10, 1918, in Brighton, the son of Henry and Grace Lamansky Mineart. He married Kathryn Wehr July 30, 1941, at St. Joseph Church in East Pleasant Plain.

My grandfather grew up in Brighton, Iowa and was a farmer there his whole life. He also worked at Louden Machinery Company in Fairfield, Iowa, where they manufactured farm equipment.

He was a pretty amazing guy – farmer, welder, woodworker, skilled mechanic – astonishing what he could do with his brain and his hands. He was the father of six children, 22 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. My grandfather and grandmother’s marriage of 69 years is for me the model for “happily ever after.” He was funny, happy, kind, mild-mannered and he radiated goodness. I have been blessed all my life to have him as a role model for how to live life. He brought such abundance into the world.

Me, with a cupboard that my grandpa made for my play kitchen – December 1971. I still have this cupboard – it’s in my guest bedroom. Our house is filled with little things he made for me my whole life.

I will miss him so much.