Leslie G. Hollenbeck

Lester, Iowa Leslie G. Hap Hollenbeck, age 85 died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007 at Anamosa, Iowa. A private family service will be held at a later time. Leslie Gene Hollenbeck was born April 14, 1922 in Lester, Iowa, the son of Grover and Jessie (Holden) Hollenbeck. He was raised in the Lester area and graduated from Lester High School. During his childhood he was given the nickname of Happy by the local grouchier for his happy go luck demeanor. He entered the U.S. Army on November 24, 1942 serving in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorable discharged on November 2, 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart. He returned to Lester, IA and was married on February 12, 1953 to Gertrude Sehr at the St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA. Together the couple lived in various place in N.W. Iowa. During that time Hap worked as a mechanic for John Deere Implements in Rock Rapids, IA and Canton, SD. In 1967 Hap and Gertrude moved back to Lester, IA and he began driving truck for All American in Sioux Falls, SD. He was a member of Disabled American Veterans and enjoyed playing softball, fishing, reading and racing hobby stock at area speedways. He is survived by his wife, Gertrude (Sehr) Hollenbeck of Lester, IA; three sons, Daryl (and Sheila) Hollenbeck of Larchwood, IA; Guy (and Barb) Hollenbeck of Alvord, IA and Lyle (and Christy) Hollenbeck of Flandreau, SD; one daughter, Toni Van Veldhuizen of Topeka, KS; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marge Hollenbeck of Las Vegas, NV and Peggy (and Jim) Raley of Brandon, SD; four brothers-in-law, John (and Evelyn) Sehr of Sioux Falls, SD, Paul (and Greta) Sehr of Egan, SD, Robert (and Barb) Sehr of Larchwood, IA, and Clarence (and Nancy) Sehr of Phoenix, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Melvin Pete Hollenbeck.