Leonard Hanford Pedersen, Jr.

Mr. Leonard Hanford Pedersen, Jr., 94, formerly of Calamus, Iowa, passed Saturday, October 28, 2017, at the Gardens of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, following a long illness.

He was born March 15, 1923, in Calamus to the late Leonard Hanford and Threna Marguerite Pedersen and was their only child.  Leonard grew up in Wheatland and was called by his middle name, Hanford throughout his youth.  After serving in the Navy during World War II as a radar technician, he went to college in Davenport and began working for Kohrs Packing Company.  Kohrs was purchased by Oscar Mayer and he was moved to their home office in Madison, Wisconsin.  There, he worked as the Controller and at retirement was the Director of Long Range Planning and Acquisition.

While serving in the Navy, Leonard met Nellie Johnson who was serving in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and they were married for 30 years before she passed away.  During a reunion of DeWitt High School, he met Betty Balliu from Maquoketa and they were married for 28 years until her death.  Not only did Leonard have a successful career, he had his own real estate brokerage firm and even learned to fly, owning his own plane.

Surviving are his daughter, Diane T. (Michael) Feeney of Arizona; his son, Eric Pedersen of Madison; twin granddaughters, Shannon and Megan Feeney and a granddaughter, Erin (Alex)Arrango-Escalante; great-grandchildren, Liliana and Julian; step-children, Marty (Tammy) Balliu of Maquoketa, Mary (Tom) Hense of Dubuque and Michael Balliu of Chicago.

A graveside service and military rites will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Kvindherred Cemetery, rural Calamus.  The Rev. William Runaas, Jr. will officiate.  Burial will follow.

Memorials may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, rural Calamus or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, Grand Mound.