Leonard John Hartl

Leonard J. Hartl, age 67, of Decorah, Iowa, died Saturday, June 12, 2004 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota of injuries sustained in a car accident near West Union, Iowa. Funeral Service is on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at 10:00 A.M. at Decorah Lutheran Church by the Rev. James Glesne. Burial will be at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at Dupont Cemetery, rural Swisher, Iowa. Visitation is on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Wednesday, after 9:00 am at the church. Leonard John Hartl was born September 18, 1936, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Fred and Luverna (Rinderknecht) Hartl. He grew up in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1954. Leonard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Iowa State University in 1958. He later earned a Masters Degree in Adult Education from the University of Iowa. He was married to Kathy Wangsness in 1965, and they later divorced. They have two children, Julie and Dan. Leonard began his career teaching physics at Central and West High Schools in Davenport, Iowa. He later taught for Eastern Iowa Community College in Davenport and Clinton. Leonard then worked for Stanley Engineering Consultants in Muscatine, Iowa. He taught for a time at Crestwood High School in Cresco, Iowa. Leonard also owned and operated Hartland Contracting Service in Decorah and was responsible for building Montgomery Plaza in Decorah. In recent years, Leonard farmed, raised beef cattle and also operated JRR Trucking of Decorah. He served his country in the US Army Reserve. Leonard was a member of the Vizsla Club of America, Pheasants Forever, and the Winneshiek County Cattlemen. He enjoyed hunting and raising dogs. Leonard died Saturday, June 12, 2004, at the age of 67 at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, of injuries suffered in a car accident near West Union. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter and his parents. He is survived by his two children, Julie L. Hartl of Nevada, Iowa; Dan (Melissa) Hartl of Calmar, Iowa; a granddaughter, Stephanie N. Lackland of Nevada, Iowa; a sister, Jean (Stan) Long of Valencia, California; a niece and three nephews.