Leonard Postma, age 85 of Sanborn, passed away at the Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 18th at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Sanborn, with Rev. Gregg Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Roseland Cemetery in Sanborn.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sanborn Funeral Home, which is in charge of the arrangements for 85 year-old Leonard Postma of Sanborn.
Leonard James Postma, the son of Wilbert and Jennie (Bilsland) Postma, was born June 14, 1928 near Sheldon, IA. He lived his youth in the Sanborn, IA area and attended country school there. Leonard graduated from Sanborn High School in 1946.
On August 5, 1972, he was united in marriage to Shirley Jean Erkes at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, IA. One son, Leon, was born to this union. During his first marriage to Lois Litka, Leonard adopted four children: James, Barbara, Keith and Karen.
Leonard was always intrigued with aviation – anything to do with airplanes and flying. Attending the Oshkosh International Air Shows was definitely something he looked forward to. He was a founding member of, and a Jump Master for the Sheldon Sky High Divers in Sheldon, IA., and also a member of the Sheldon Sky High Flyers. He enjoyed boating and time spent relaxing at his home at Okoboji. In March of 2014, Leonard moved to the Prairie View Nursing Home at Sanborn and passed away there on April 15, 2014 at the age of 85.
During his adult life, Leonard was employed as a part-time police officer for the city of Sanborn, a mechanic and later, as manager of Coop Oil Company of Sanborn and Sheldon. He operated the ACE Hardware store in Sanborn and was a truck driver for Vander Veens, Dan Dugan, Petroleum Carriers and Hartog Elevator also of Sanborn. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sanborn where he served as an Elder and Trustee. He belonged to the Onyx Lodge #419 of Sanborn, and was a Past-Commander and 50-Year Member of the American Legion, having served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Shirley of Sanborn, his children: James (Heidi) Postma of Sanborn, Barbara Van Otterloo of Omaha, NE, and Leon (Keri) Postma of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren; three great-greadchildren: Dylan, Madison and Bella Postma; one brother, Howard (Jamie) Postma of Sanborn; other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers: Robert, John, Keith (as an infant); sister, Dorothy Dykstra; his two children; Keith and Karen.
