LeRoy Charles Darby, 81, of Sarasota and formerly of Monona, Iowa, died Jan. 25, 2009. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, April 4, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Monona. LeRoy is fondly remembered for his strong faith in Christ, his perseverance, his generosity and most of all, his positive outlook on life in all circumstances.
    LeRoy was born to Clarence and Katie (nee Sutter) Darby in Plainfield. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Greene High School in 1945. He joined the Merchant Marines and then transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1946. After his honorable discharge, he courted Colleen Obermeier and married her on May 22, 1949. Three months later, their vows to honor each other in sickness and in health were challenged when LeRoy contracted bulbar and paralytic polio, leaving him completely paralyzed. After he was released from the Iowa City University Hospitals, he began home rehabilitation and regained some use of his body. He later attended Hamilton College and graduated in 1951.
LeRoy’s 55 year banking career began as a branch manager of the First Security Bank of Marble Rock. He also served as city clerk; established and was president of the first Lions Club, which is still active today.
    In 1955, Roy and Colleen moved to Wapello, after purchasing an interest in the State Bank of Wapello. In 1965, they purchased controlling interest in Union State Bank, Monona, where they spent many happy years. Five years later, the Farmersburg Savings Bank was purchased and the charter was transferred to Elkader, as Peoples State Bank. In recent years, Postville State Bank was added. All of these banks were merged into Freedom Bank, which serves Northeast Iowa. In 2007, they decided to sell the banks to the employees at the time of their retirement.
     During his banking career he completed several graduate banking courses at Madison School of Banking, Ag School at Iowa State University and School of Banking at Harvard in Boston. During this time he served as a director of the Iowa Independent Bankers Association.
    While living in Monona, he was passionate about community development as he served as president of the Monona Enterprise, a community development organization, held several offices in Monona Kiwanis, a lifetime member of the Monona Historical Society, Froelich Foundation and served as president of Dollars for Scholars. His philanthropy played a vital role in building the Monona Community Center, Darby Family Aquatic Center, and Garden View Assisted Living. He was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and served as memorial fund treasurer for several years. He was most recently an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota and was a strong supporter of the church’s building expansion designed to facilitate the church’s community outreach.
    LeRoy was preceded in death by his brother Erwin Darby. He leaves behind and will be greatly missed by his devoted wife of 59 years, Colleen Darby; their three children: Cathy Darby, Doug Darby and Tricia Staff; and his siblings, David, Raymond and Ellen Darby; as well as five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
    Memorial donations may be made to the City of Monona for maintenance on the Darby Family Aquatic Center or the charity of your choice. The family of LeRoy C. Darby gratefully acknowledges all the kind expressions of sympathy, love and support offered to them at this time.

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     Funeral services for Gerald C. Hildebrand, 92, formerly of 206 S. Fourth St., Greene, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Greene, where Gerald had been a lifelong member. Pastor Gary Hatcher will officiate with burial in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene.
     Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30, at Reid’s Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St. Greene with a Scripture Service at 7 p.m.
Gerald Carlyle Hildebrand, the son of Lillie (Fischer) and Henry Hildebrand, was born April 11, 1916, and was the oldest of nine children, Gerald Hildebrand, passed away Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City, at the advanced age of 92.
     He graduated from the Marble Rock High School in 1934. He married Rose Mary VanBenschoten on Dec. 27, 1938. Gerald farmed north of Greene for many years. His main focus was raising chickens for both his own egg production business and for others. He was a leader in the large egg production business and was featured in Wallace’s Farmer.
     Gerald loved to fish, whether it was Trout at Dorchester, Iowa or Walleye on Kitchie Lake in Minnesota or whatever was biting at South Padre Island in Texas. He was proud of the fact that he had built two houses with his own two hands. After retiring from farming he took up cross stitching and completed many projects.
     He wintered in Paradise Park in Pharr, Texas, for 28 years and valued his winter friends there.
     Gerald is survived by his children: Bernard (Barbara) of Warren, Mich., Judy (Larry Blum) of Cedar Rapids and Sharlene (David Salas) of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren: Ethan Hildebrand of Cedar Falls, Joel Blum (Abbe) of Stockton, Calif., Heather Blum Pastor (Greg) of Birmingham, England; Cheryl Michaud of Anchorage, Alaska and Dan Stock of Mound, Minn.; several great grandchildren; one sister, Ruth VanBenschoten of Huey Town, Ala.; four brothers: Dale (Verna) of Mason City, Gordon (Zona) of Marion, Mark (Shirley) of Milwaukee and Dwight of Omaha; and many nieces and nephews.
     He was preceded in death by his wife Rose Mary, his parents, his brothers Sylvan and Frederick and sisters Lillian and Clella.
     Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Gerald Hildebrand Memorial Fund designated to St. Peter Lutheran Church in care of Judy Blum at 7310 Fieldstone Dr. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405.
     Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Reid’s Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene, (641) 823-4457. www.reidsfuneral.com.

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Posted on 01/29/2009 by Marie Thompson

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