Leland Eral

Leland W. Eral, 80, of Spirit Lake passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Avera McKenna Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 11, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at St. Margaret’s Cemetery in Spirit Lake. A vigil service and Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Rosary will take place at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral in Spirit with a visitation to follow until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Lee was born on July 5, 1937 in Pocahontas, IA to Wesley and Helen (Baker) Eral. He graduated from Pocahontas High School and earned his business degree from business college in Mason City, IA. He was united in marriage to Gayle Doerning on September 12, 1959 in Emmetsburg, IA at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Lee served his country in the United States National Guard as a cook for 22 years. Aside from serving his country, Lee farmed his homestead in Spirit Lake, delivered Winnebago Motor Homes, worked for Muske Electric, sold auto/farm parts for various companies throughout Northwest Iowa, delivered propane for Northern Propane, delivered farm chemicals for United Suppliers, worked in maintenance for St. Luke and Lake Park Care Centers. Lee is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he was a 3rd and 4th degree Knight. He is also a member of the Milford American Legion. He dedicated his free time to serving those organizations by cooking omelets and working the fish dinners at the Spirit Lake VFW. He enjoyed going to farm sales, visiting car lots, searching for specific tractors, going fishing, and driving his dog Penny around in his gator while they went searching the road ditches for asparagus. He especially enjoyed his 58 years of marriage with Gayle and his children. Left to cherish his memory is his wife Gayle Eral of Spirit Lake; daughters Michella (Brian) Koppen of Spirit Lake and Theresa Eral of Black Hawk, SD; brother Wes (Diane) Eral of Fonda, IA; brother in law Melvin (Madeline) Doerning of Alhambra, CA and a sister in law Kay Eral of LeMars, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, twin brother Deland and his brother James.

Leland Eral

July 5, 1937 - January 7, 2018