Leona Wulf

Lester, Iowa Leona Wulf, age 88 of Sabetha, KS, formerly of Lester, IA died Monday, May 9, 2011 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, KS. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Friday, May 13th at the Apostolic Christian Church in Lester, IA, with burial to follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, May 12th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Apostolic Christian Church Fellowship Hall in Lester. Also, visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:40 AM Friday morning at the church. Leona Beth (Banwart) Wulf was born on July 25, 1922, to Paul and Elizabeth Benninger Banwart near West Bend, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm in a family of thirteen children. Following graduation from West Bend High School, Leona moved to Elgin, Illinois, to work. She then returned to West Bend where she was employed in the office at Montag Motors. Believing in God, she was baptized in the Apostolic Christian Church and was a member since 1941. On September 2, 1951, she was united in marriage to Wilhelm Martin Wulf at West Bend, Iowa. They raised their family while farming on the Minnesota-Iowa state line south of Hills, MN. She enjoyed raising a large garden to provide for her family. Her children remember her reading books and singing to them throughout their childhood. In 1978, Bill and Leona retired and moved into Hills, and in 1996 to the Lester Retirement Apartments. After residing in Premier Estates Retirement Center and Rock Rapids Health Center they moved to Apostolic Christian Home of Sabetha Kansas. Daily News and Bible was a nursing home activity that she enjoyed after moving there. Her husband of 55 years passed away on June 16, 2007. She peacefully died at the Apostolic Christian Nursing Home in Sabetha, KS, on May 9, 2011, at the age of 88, where she had been a resident for five years. She is survived by seven children: Carol (Dave) Knapp of Roanoke, IL, Dale (Becky) Wulf of Lester, IA, Darlene (Arden) Stoller of Sabetha, KS, Arnie (Myra) Wulf of Sioux Falls, SD, Julie (Jon) Schmidgall of Mediapolis, IA, Stanley (Pam) Wulf of Morris, MN, and Leroy (Carolyn) Wulf of Mediapolis, IA. Also surviving are 26 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Grandma Wulf made each grandchild feel as if they were her favorite. Leona's three surviving sisters are Alice Metzger of Alvord, IA, Lela Banwart of West Bend, IA, and Estellyn Metzger of Lester, IA. Brothers surviving are Edwin (Ada)Banwart of Mediapolis, IA, Paul (Emmy)Banwart of Casa Grande, AZ, and Robert (Kay)Banwart of West Bend, IA. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Madelyn Banwart of West Bend, IA, Esther Banwart of Tremont, IL, and Betty Banwart of West Bend, IA. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, four brothers (Arthur, Elmer, Arnold and Benji), two sisters (Clara Anliker and Miriam Frieden), her dear grandson Landon Wulf, and great-grandson, Daniel Schmidgall. Memorial contributions may be made to the Apostolic Christian Home of Sabetha, KS, or to Apostolic Christian Home for the Handicapped in Morton, IL.