Leroy Redfern

LeRoy H. Redfern, 87, died Monday morning, March 12, 2007, at the Western Home Communities. He was born April 16, 1919, in Peru, Nebraska to Loren Donald and Grace Hallett Redfern. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Margaret Louise and brother, Loren. LeRoy graduated from Peru High School in 1937 and Peru State Teachers College in 1941. He taught at the high school in Mt. Morris, Michigan, for one year before enlisting in the United States Navy in May of 1942. LeRoy married Nancy Ellen Jones on September 11, 1942, in Peru, Nebraska. He served for a year in North Africa then as Lieutenant (j.g.) served as Dispersing Officer on the USS Westmoreland in the Pacific until the end of the war. Following the war, LeRoy graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (1948), where he was assistant editor of the Michigan Law Review. Nancy attended LeRoy's law school graduation ceremonies, while LeRoy took the Iowa bar exam and traveled Iowa to find the ideal community in which to practice law and raise a family. He found that community in Cedar Falls, and the family moved there within two weeks. LeRoy was a senior partner in the law firm of Redfern, Mason, Dieter, Larsen & Moore, for more than 50 years. LeRoy was an active member of the legal profession, serving on the Iowa Bar Association Title Standards Committee for 37 years, 22 years of which he served as Chairman. LeRoy received the highest award the Iowa State Bar Association bestows on its members, the Award of Merit, in 1979 and received the Iowa State Bar Association Community Service Award in 2001. LeRoy served on the board of directors of a number of area financial institutions, businesses, and non-profit associations. He helped create and establish the Cedar Falls Industrial Development Association and the Cedar Falls Industrial Park. LeRoy and Nancy jointly received the Cedar Falls Representative Citizens Award in 1978. LeRoy helped establish and was one of the original trustees when the Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) Foundation was created in 1959 and served 47 years on the Board, including over 20 years as Vice Chairman. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Northern Iowa in 2006. LeRoy was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he held a number of leadership positions. He was member of the Cedar Falls Rotary Club, serving as President in 1954-55. He was a member of AMVETS Post #49 and received the 1987 AMVETS State Commander's Award. He helped establish and served as the first President of the Peru State College Foundation, receiving the Distinguished Service Award from that institution in 2002. LeRoy was an avid football and basketball fan who rooted for his teams: UNI, Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska. He loved the game of golf and his Thursday and Saturday foursomes, senior golf and the annual week at Madden's Lodge. He enjoyed preparing presentations for his Supper Club and Arcturus and participating in the debate and discussion of the papers presented by others. Politics and history were interests throughout his life. As a former Nebraska state cornet champion, he had always enjoyed music and loved to listen to the municipal band on a summer night and to attend orchestra concerts and other presentations, most recently at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. With wife, Nancy, he loved to travel the world, and a special destination was Krefeld, Germany, to be with his "German son," Karl Severens and his family. He was passionate about friendships and good times with special friends. Couples Club, boating on the Cedar and Mississippi Rivers and lake vacations to Clear Lake and Minnesota were favorite pastimes. LeRoy was a devoted son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. Spending time with family was a special joy. LeRoy was a loyal and compassionate friend, a great listener and a mentor to many. His passion and zest for life has been an inspiration to his family. LeRoy is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Ellen, of 64 years. He is also survived by his four children: Don Redfern (Lorelei Heisinger) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dick (Kathy) Redfern of St. Paul, MN, Anne Redfern of Excelsior, MN, and Dr. Sallie Redfern (Jeff Tomaszewski) of Temecula, CA; nine grandchildren: including, Bridget (Tom) Carlson, Chris (Ali) Murphy, Jeff and Luke Redfern, Jackie and Julie Tomaszewski and Benson, Harrison and Grant Redfern; two great-grandchildren, Connor Murphy and Noah Carlson; one brother, Willard (Jean) Redfern of La Mirada, CA, "adopted" son Karl (Elisabeth) Severens of Krefeld, Germany, and "adopted" grandchildren Carina and Alexander and many nieces and nephews.

Leroy Redfern

April 16, 1919 - March 12, 2007