Leona Haye

March 23, 1919 - August 1, 2016

Leona Haye, age 97, of Sutherland and Spirit Lake, passed away on Monday August 1, 2016 at the Twilight Acres Care Center in Wall Lake, Iowa. Memorial services will be 11:00 AM Friday at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial will take place in Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland. Visitation will be 9 – 11 am Friday at Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home. Leona Mildred Lohff, the daughter of Ernest J. and Emma (Hansen) Lohff, was born on March 23, 1919 in Holstein, Iowa. She graduated from Sutherland High School in 1939. On October 30, 1942 Leona was united in marriage with Merle Z. Haye in Dakota City, Nebraska. She had worked as a secretary for the Sutherland School Superintendent, the Sutherland Creamery and farmed with her husband Merle after WWII. They raised their two children and lived on the farm until Merle’s death in 1991. In 1991 Leona moved to Sibley and in 2008 she moved to Spirit Lake. Leona was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Sutherland, Sibley and Arnolds Park. She served on the church board and was active in the UMW. Leona was an excellent cook and baker. She and Merle loved big band and swing music and had been members of several area dance clubs. Leona enjoyed bowling, spending time at the Lakes with her family and friends, and following the Iowa Hawkeyes. Left to cherish Leona’s memory is her son, Michael (Jan) Haye of Wall Lake; a son-in-law, David Peelen of Okoboji; five grandchildren; two sisters, Lorraine (Ron) Oien of Bettendorf and Diane (Merle) Negus of Kingsley; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a daughter, Susan Peelen in 2014; a sister, Lillian Otto; and brothers, Ernie and Harlan Lohff.