Leland Vander Linden
March 30, 1933 — June 19, 2021
Leland Vander Linden liked to respond when asked about his birthday: “3-30-33!” It always drew a response. He passed away at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on June 19 after a heart attack on June15. He was the fourth of eight children born to Adrian and Naomi (Jones) Vander Linden.
He was a proud graduate of PHS in 1950.
Upon being drafted into the United States Army in 1953 near the end of the Korean War, Leland was assigned to the Far East Command Headquarters in Tokyo as a cryptographer, ciphering/deciphering incoming messages. Following his service, Leland became a member of the American Legion Post No. 108 in Pleasantville.
After his honorable discharge in 1955 he attended Iowa State University to study architecture for a short time and consequently worked as a bricklayer in Ames.
In 1957 he and his brother, Jack, pooled their talents and Vander Linden Brothers Construction was formed that lasted over 55 years. A record of their construction history, employees and projects was compiled in a 200 plus page book in 2015.
In addition to over 400 residential and commercial projects, their efforts included Pleasant Care Nursing Home, 10 X manufacturing, Pleasantville Country Club clubhouse, Marion County Historical Building, local city hall and fire station, Pleasant Village Senior Housing, Homemakers Plaza, a U.S. Post Office, 2 ASCS buildings, to name a few. Their “conglomeration,” as it was referred to by a friend, encompassed Rose City Plumbing, which included brother, Alan, Pleasantville Building Supply, Vander Linden Floor Covering, Clark Real Estate and Insurance, and Cosmos, the original cable tv service in Pleasantville, Melcher, Dallas and Monroe. Nearly 1,000 storage units were constructed and owned by the brothers.
Retirement was never an option when the assets were divided in 2002 and Leland retained the local properties. Due to health issues he reluctantly retired in 2015 at age 82.
Left to honor his memory include his wife of 46 years, Sally, daughters Janis of Kansas City and her daughters Heidi (Zach) Martens and their daughters Sloan, Hadley and Naomi (due July 23); Megan (fiancé Nate Marcum) Kliethermes of Overland Park, KS; daughter Jolene (Jeff) Conway of New Orleans, LA and their daughters Callie, Patsy, Bobbi Lee of Fayetteville, AR; brothers Jack of Indianola and Alan of Marshalltown; sisters Patsy Shook of Lexington, KY; Eloise Thorson of Story City, IA; Kathleen (Pat)Murphy of Altoona, IA; Sue Ogg of Weatherford, TX and 16 beloved nieces and nephews, especially Edye Johnson, Joni Page and Emily Taylor, and a host of other relatives, in laws and special friends.
Leaving this earth in addition to his parents include his sister, Sara Seaver, brothers-in- law, Max Shook, Richard Thorson, Dave Ogg, Robert Seaver; sisters-in-law Jackie Vander Linden and Sherry Vander Linden, niece Jani Levinson, mother-in-law Billie Davis.
From his humble beginnings, Leland will be remembered as a man who accomplished much; a man of integrity, loyalty, humility and sense of humor. He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed by many friends and family.
A Memorial Service for Leland Vander Linden, age 88 of Pleasantville, will be held Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pleasantville Memorial Hall. Private burial, with Military Honors, will be in Pleasantville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Mason Funeral Home.
In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to the Leland Vander Linden Fund for Pleasantville Community Projects at People’s Bank, 802 West Jasper Street, Pleasantville, IA 50225 or Venmo to the Leland Vander Linden Memorial Account.
He was a proud graduate of PHS in 1950.
Upon being drafted into the United States Army in 1953 near the end of the Korean War, Leland was assigned to the Far East Command Headquarters in Tokyo as a cryptographer, ciphering/deciphering incoming messages. Following his service, Leland became a member of the American Legion Post No. 108 in Pleasantville.
After his honorable discharge in 1955 he attended Iowa State University to study architecture for a short time and consequently worked as a bricklayer in Ames.
In 1957 he and his brother, Jack, pooled their talents and Vander Linden Brothers Construction was formed that lasted over 55 years. A record of their construction history, employees and projects was compiled in a 200 plus page book in 2015.
In addition to over 400 residential and commercial projects, their efforts included Pleasant Care Nursing Home, 10 X manufacturing, Pleasantville Country Club clubhouse, Marion County Historical Building, local city hall and fire station, Pleasant Village Senior Housing, Homemakers Plaza, a U.S. Post Office, 2 ASCS buildings, to name a few. Their “conglomeration,” as it was referred to by a friend, encompassed Rose City Plumbing, which included brother, Alan, Pleasantville Building Supply, Vander Linden Floor Covering, Clark Real Estate and Insurance, and Cosmos, the original cable tv service in Pleasantville, Melcher, Dallas and Monroe. Nearly 1,000 storage units were constructed and owned by the brothers.
Retirement was never an option when the assets were divided in 2002 and Leland retained the local properties. Due to health issues he reluctantly retired in 2015 at age 82.
Left to honor his memory include his wife of 46 years, Sally, daughters Janis of Kansas City and her daughters Heidi (Zach) Martens and their daughters Sloan, Hadley and Naomi (due July 23); Megan (fiancé Nate Marcum) Kliethermes of Overland Park, KS; daughter Jolene (Jeff) Conway of New Orleans, LA and their daughters Callie, Patsy, Bobbi Lee of Fayetteville, AR; brothers Jack of Indianola and Alan of Marshalltown; sisters Patsy Shook of Lexington, KY; Eloise Thorson of Story City, IA; Kathleen (Pat)Murphy of Altoona, IA; Sue Ogg of Weatherford, TX and 16 beloved nieces and nephews, especially Edye Johnson, Joni Page and Emily Taylor, and a host of other relatives, in laws and special friends.
Leaving this earth in addition to his parents include his sister, Sara Seaver, brothers-in- law, Max Shook, Richard Thorson, Dave Ogg, Robert Seaver; sisters-in-law Jackie Vander Linden and Sherry Vander Linden, niece Jani Levinson, mother-in-law Billie Davis.
From his humble beginnings, Leland will be remembered as a man who accomplished much; a man of integrity, loyalty, humility and sense of humor. He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed by many friends and family.
A Memorial Service for Leland Vander Linden, age 88 of Pleasantville, will be held Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pleasantville Memorial Hall. Private burial, with Military Honors, will be in Pleasantville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Mason Funeral Home.
In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to the Leland Vander Linden Fund for Pleasantville Community Projects at People’s Bank, 802 West Jasper Street, Pleasantville, IA 50225 or Venmo to the Leland Vander Linden Memorial Account.
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