Leo W. Francis – age 81, of Palmer, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Leo William Francis was born on April 23, 1938, at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was the son of Donald and Eldora (Alig) Francis. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1956. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve. On December 28, 1957, Leo was united in marriage to Lavon Nedved at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pocahontas. Leo worked for Wallner Construction for several years. He then began farming, first with his Dad and later with his sons, Alan and Brian. His final harvest was in the fall of 2019.

Leo was a lifetime member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Palmer where he served as a lay minister. Upon the closing of the church, Leo and Lavon joined the Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in Pocahontas. Leo served on the Palmer Co-op Elevator Board and was a trustee in Lincoln Township for 35 years. In his younger days, Leo loved to go fox hunting with family and friends. He loved to attend all of the ball games his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids took part in. In his later years, Leo loved having packets of fruit snacks in his shirt pocket for his great-grandkids to find.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Lavon; children, Alan (Deb) Francis of Palmer, Brian (Joann) Francis of Pocahontas, Roger Francis of Pocahontas, William Francis of Hull and Connie (Scot) McDonough of Sac City, 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren who loved him dearly; a sister, Kay (Merrill) Heinze of Manson and a brother Harold (JoAnn) Francis of Pocahontas.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Travis Francis and a daughter-in-law, Sondra Francis