Leona Telfer

Leona Edna Telfer was born in rural Newell, Iowa on June 14, 1924, the child of William (Bill) and Lena Witzke. After spending her entire life in Newell, she moved to live with her daughter and son-in-law for 10 years in rural Badger, Iowa. She entered the Good Samaritan Center in Newell in March 2010 and later moved to The Marian Home in Fort Dodge where she resided at the time of her death. She was married to Charles Hickman, Ned Madson, and Clifford Telfer, all who preceded her in death. She had three daughters; Jane (Dean) Burnett of Dubuque, Iowa; Sue (Don) Evers of Badger, Iowa; and Nancy (Loren) Schuelke of Eagle Grove, Iowa. In her younger years, Leona worked at the Newell Creamery and various restaurants in Newell. She cooked for fifteen years for the Newell Schools, where she also served as a teacherâ€™s aide. She retired from the Newell Good Samaritan Center in 1999 after working as a dietary supervisor and cook for almost twenty-five years. She found great joy in cooking for the residents and their families over the years. Her greatest love was cooking for family and friends. It gave her much happiness to know that people enjoyed eating what she prepared. She cooked to satisfy everyoneâ€™s taste and always made sure that everyone had enough to eat, and that no one left hungry. Leona had many passions in her lifetime. Aside from her love of cooking, she also enjoyed reading Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts novels and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes play basketball. She was an avid animal lover and the proud owner of many special dog friends whom she loved over the years. She is survived by her daughters and their spouses; two granddaughters, Michelle (Tim) Ehlinger and Kimberly (Troy) Hackbarth all of Dubuque, Iowa; two great grandsons, Spencer and Riley Ehlinger, who were one of her greatest joys in her life; several nieces and nephews, all of which she loved dearly. Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brothers, Albert and Raymond Witzke; sister, Irene Peck; son-in-law, Dean Burnett; two infant grandchildren; and many other relatives.

Leona Telfer

June 14, 1924 - March 3, 2011