Leon John Meester

Leon John Meester, 66, of Holland, passed away suddenly on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021 at the Guttenberg, Municipal Hospital in Guttenberg, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at the Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Engelkes Chapel in Grundy Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 at the Pleasant Valley Reformed Church in Rural Holland (Fern). Burial will follow at the Pleasant Valley Reformed Church Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Leon was born on September 6, 1954 in Grundy Center to his parents Johannes and Dorothy Mavis (Ross) Meester. He graduated from Wellsburg High School in the class of 1972 and then attended Hawkeye Tech. Leon then went to work as a welder at Waterloo Industries and later Mid Equipment in Grundy Center before joining his father and two brothers on the family farm. He raised cattle and hogs and worked the 3-generation family farm for over 45 years up until his passing. Leon was united in marriage to Jean Ann Beninga on June 28, 1974, and together they welcomed three children into their family.

Leon was a life-long member of the Pleasant Valley Reformed Church. He served the church consistory as the Treasurer, the superintendent of Sunday school and as a junior high and high school youth group leader. Leon had many hobbies. He enjoyed wine making, hunting, fishing, boating, ice fishing and time at the pond. He loved his trips with family and friends to Mazatlán, Mexico. He also loved playing Santa for the kids. He was an avid gardener and leaves behind 94 tomato plants for his family to “enjoy.” However, his true joy in life came from spending time with family and friends.

Leon is survived by his wife of 47 years Jean Meester; children Terra (Blain) Lage, Travis (Jen) Meester Tiane (Jeremy) Tews and his Foreign Exchange daughter, Maggie Lin of Hong Kong; grandchildren Jackson, Sydney, Mason and Gavin Lage, Autumn and Aiden Meester and Joseph and Claire Tews; siblings Carol Bolin, Bob (Georgiann) Meester, Kaylene (Dave) Bern and Russell (Joan) Meester; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law Bernie and Betty Beninga; sister-in-law Sonia Derrick; brother-in-law Dean Beninga; and nephews Cameron Meester and Martin Becker.