- Date Of Birth: January 4, 1929
- Date Of Death: September 24, 2014
- State: Iowa
Leona May (Schafer) Alderson, the daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Schmidt)Schafer, was born January 4, 1929 in West Bend, IA, where she was raised, received her education and graduated from the West Bend High School. She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in West Bend. On October 15, 1961, she was united in marriage with Glen Dean Alderson and the couple made their home in West Bend. She worked at the grocery stores in West Bend, as well as the Grotto of Redemption Restaurant and Gift Shop before her retirement in 2004. Onie was “in love” with life and all the people she knew. One of her proudest accomplishments was playing guard on the West Bend girls, basketball team in the state tournament of 1947. Her hobbies included the Topps club, bowling, gardening, walking and cooking, especially making salads. She had been a resident of the West Bend Care Center since August 31, 2007. The doctors, nurses and nurses’ aides were not only her caregivers, but also her “family” and friends. Survivors include her sons: David (Laura Wojciuk) Ellison of Elkhorn, WI, Glen Dean Jr. (Char) Alderson of Brandon, SD, special adopted daughters, Patti Runchey and Janet Laubenthal of West Bend and her grandson Shawn Ellison of Ruthven, IA; and many special nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Glen; son Darrell, and 12 brothers and sisters: Carl, Louis, Bill, Bette, Robert, Otto, Wilma, Ernie, Eleanor, Don, Toby and Frances.
