Leota A. Niederhauser

Leota was born the second child of Nick and Clara Decker, in rural Dubuque County, Iowa on July 7, 1930. She spent the last days of her life resting in her home surrounded by her children and her children's children. On July 5th, 2007 Leota passed away due to complications resulting from a series of strokes. First and foremost, Leota was mother and grandmother, a barefoot, country girl who never tired of playing in the dirt. She affectionately called her building and her business - on the corner of Main Street and 1st Avenue in Mount Vernon - her farm. Leota attended the Visitation Academy in Dubuque and received her LPN certification from St. Thomas School of Nursing in Marshalltown where she met her husband, Robert Niederhauser. After the birth of their first child in 1954 Leota and Bob moved to Mount Vernon. Leota and Bob have 9 children and 20 grandchildren: Mary Lynn & John Altshuler of Denver, CO and their daughters Gaia and India Bill & Priscilla Niederhauser of Kenai, AK and their daughters Haley and Mylee Jerry & Kathleen Niederhauser of Mount Vernon, IA and their son Jacob and wife Sarah and daughter Olivia John & Charlotte Niederhauser of Stone City, IA Chiara & Matt Burke of Mount Vernon, IA and their daughter Maggie and husband Brock Slaymaker and daughter Mollie and son Scott Rob & Julie Niederhauser of Kenai, AK and their son Jeramiah Molly Jo & Jim Bertling of Mount Vernon, IA and their daughters, Jessica and Melissa and son Spencer Lisa & Buck Oelrich of Orange, VA and their daughters Leeann, Gretchen, Rachael, and Tori Polly Ann & Bob Blythe of Mount Vernon, IA and their son Robbie and daughters Lisa and Chiara Leota is also survived by siblings: Robert Decker Steve Decker Alice and Jim Kruser Marion Russow Ruth Decker Leota was preceded in her death by her mother and father, an infant brother Leo and younger sister Dorothy. Leota and Bob owned and operated several businesses together including the grocery stores Bob's Super Valu in Mount Vernon and Shop-Rite in Solon. Leota was never one to give up. When she and Bob divorced in the late 1970's, she found herself a single parent with a lot of child-raising left to do. She chose the real estate business as the bootstraps with which she would pull herself up. Her hard work and dedication to treating people the way she would like to be treated made Lee's Town & Country the success it has been for some 30 years now. Still going strong until just last year when medical challenges forced her to hang up her broker license, Leota was an inspiration to everyone she met. Although it was not her ambition to make a name for herself, she couldn't help it. Leota helped scores of people over the years; whether it was going out on a limb to help someone purchase their first home or encouraging someone to get up the gumption and take the risk to start their own business; she always set the example with her relentless optimism and endless energy. Please join Leona's family in celebrating her life. Visitation with family will be on Monday, July 9, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a wake service following at 7:30 p.m. A private family service will be held later that evening during which Leota's casket will be closed. Funeral services and refreshments will follow on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Visitation and all services will be held at Morgan Funeral & Cremation Services, 715 10th Avenue SW in Mount Vernon. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Grandma Leota's grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions and memorials may be sent to Hospice of Mercy at 315 18th Avenue, Hiawatha, IA 52233 or to Mount Vernon Bank, c/o Leota Niederhauser Memorial Fund at 206 1st Street SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314.