A memorial service for Leona will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 12, 2021, at the First Congregational Church in Buffalo Center. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at the First Congregational Church. Inurnment will be at Olena Mound Cemetery in Buffalo Center. Everyone is invited to join the family for lunch and a time of sharing at the Heritage Center immediately following the committal service.
A lifelong resident of Buffalo Center, Iowa, Leona Mae Van Hove, 84, left this earth to join her Heavenly Father November 2, 2021, peacefully, surrounded by her family while a patient at the Mayo Clinic, Methodist Campus in Rochester.
Leona Mae Van Hove, daughter of Clarence and Gladys (Aukes) Heitland, was born at her parents’ home North of Buffalo Center January 12, 1937.
Leona attended school at Buffalo Center and after graduation in 1954 she started working in the Superintendent’s office, which she did until her marriage to H. Carroll Van Hove July 5, 1957, at the First Congregational Church. Carroll and Leona lived at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for five months and moved back to Buffalo Center.
They were blessed with two daughters, Cindy and Bonnie. Leona worked part time at the bowling alley for five years, then went back to work as Principal’s secretary. After three years she took the position of Superintendent/Board Secretary and Business Manager for 29 more years before retirement. Leona then worked at the Adoption Agency in Frost, MN for six years.
Leona was an active member in the Church with teaching Sunday School, Bible School, officer with Women’s Fellowship, Church Clerk Christian Woman’s and volunteer work for different places. She also did volunteer work various places. Leona made quilts for the family and baby quilts. She enjoyed reading, doing number and word puzzles, and vegetable and flower gardening.
She was a very loving and giving mother, wife, and grandmother. She always looked out for the best interest of each grandchild and encouraged them to further their education and loved spending time with them. There was always strawberry jam and cookies for the grandchildren to take home after a visit.
Family members left to cherish Leona’s memory are her daughter, Bonnie and her husband Steve Wilson of Sherburn, MN; son-in-law Dallyn (Deb) Kotewa of Fairmont, MN; grandchildren: Amber (Chuck) Knower of Eau Claire, WI, Allissa (Matt) Traetow of Fairmont, MN, Jessica (Jed) Kaurich of Fairchild, WI, and Thomas Wilson of Sherburn, MN; and great grandchildren: Lilly, Nolan, and Klaire Sweeney, Amarah Knower, Logan Madsen, and Teagan, Paxton, and Decker Kaurich.
Leona is also survived by her brother Jerry (Laura) Heitland of Clear Lake, IA; sister Judy Hanson of Trenton, MO; sisters-in-law: Carol Heitland of Clear Lake, IA, Karen Folkerts of Titonka, IA, and Marlene Van Hove of Spirit Lake, IA; brother-in-law Robert Van Hove of Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
Leona was preceded in death by her husband, H. Carroll Van Hove, September 2019, daughter, Cindy, August 1990, her parents Clarence and Gladys Heitland, sister Donna and her husband Dale Bredeson; brother, Dale Heitland; brother-in-law Keith Van Hove, and sister-in-law Judy Van Hove.
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