Leonard Marvin
Bias, 81, of Mendota
died July 29, 2013, in
Rockford
Memorial
Hospital
after a
long battle
with pulm
onary
fibrosis.
Funeral
services
will be at
10:30 a.m.
Friday
in Merritt Funeral Home,
Mendota, with the Rev.
Norman Stark officiating.
Burial will be at Restland
Cemetery with military honors
by Mendota VFW Post
4079.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m.
Thursday in the funeral home.
He was born to Frank and
Regina Bias on Nov. 19,
1931, in Wells, Minn. He
married Darlene Boelke on
Oct. 28, 1958.
Leonard served as an MP
during the Korean War. He
was transferred by Del Monte
in 1960 to Mendota and
retired in 1988 after 39 years.
He loved woodworking, gardening
and fishing. He also
helped with tillage for several
friends. He traveled the world
and enjoyed yearly trips to
Florida. Leonard was a member
of the VFW and served
on the Mendota Museum and
Historical Society board.
He is survived by his wife
Darlene and his four children,
Pam Kelly of Naperville, Lori
(Bruce) Rowe in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, Tim (Jennifer) Bias
of La Salle and Shari (Tim)
Riley of Downs. He dearly
loved his nine grandchildren,
Colleen (Mike) Francisco of
Peoria, Randi (Nick) Perry
of Avon, Ind., William Kelly
of Naperville, twins Mark
and Matthew Rowe of Grand
Rapids, Mich., and Kate
Riley, Christopher Rowe, and
Stephanie and Jacob Bias, all
at home. Leonard also is survived
by his siblings, Adelyne
(Bob) Fitzsimmons of Edina,
Minn., Wilfred (Mary Anne)
Bias of Wells, Minn., Irene
Mart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
Gerald (Barbara) Bias of
Uvalde, Texas, Jeanette Bias
of Apple Valley, Minn., and
Kathy Bias of Apple Valley,
Minn.
He was preceded in death
by his parents and his brother,
Duane.
Memorials may be directed
to Wounded Warriors
or Mendota Museum and
Historical Society.