Lenfred "Lenny" Phelps

Lenfred “Lenny” Wilbur John Phelps, 85, of Edgewood (formerly of Colesburg), passed away on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Regional Medical Center in Manchester. He was born on July 21, 1939, on the family farm near Colesburg, the sixth child of Merton and Bertha (Kauffman) Phelps. Lenny was raised and educated in the area and was a 1957 graduate of Colesburg High School. Following graduation, Lenny enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably released due to a medical injury.

On January 21, 1961, Lenny was united in marriage to Janet Ridenour at the Methodist Church in Colesburg.  Two children were born to this union. Together they resided in Colesburg, until moving to Edgewood in 2015. Lenny worked for John Deere in Dubuque, logged with his uncle Billy Walters, and then began a 32-year career selling insurance for Farm Bureau. His gift of gab and love for all people made this a fulfilling job for him until his retirement. Lenny was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and Constellation Lodge #67. 

Lenny will be remembered for his quick wit, his jokester personality and his deep love of family. He enjoyed watching sports, especially the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and the Ed-Co Viking Softball teams. He loved spending time outdoors - fishing, hunting, searching for morel mushrooms and mowing grass.  Most days you could find him putting together a puzzle, playing cribbage or euchre or being a sidekick flower delivery person.  The monthly luncheons with his 1957 classmates, the friends at the Greeley meal site, and the weekly Sunset Breakfast Club held a very special place in his heart.

Lenny would do anything for his family and showed it time and time again. He was his family’s biggest supporter and cheerleader, and his infectious smile showed his pride.

Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Janet; his daughters and sons-in-law, Julie (Bob) Hackbarth of Colesburg and Shelley (Greg) Snook of Edgewood; grandchildren, Danielle (Adam) Thurn, Allyson and Katie Snook all of Edgewood, and Tyler (Kristin) Hackbarth of California; great- grandchildren, Gavin, Cora, Ace, and Colter; one sister, Lila Bushaw of Florida; sisters- and brothers-in-laws, Mary Ann Lov, Jackie (Dean) Sherman all of Manchester, and Patty (Scott) Clark of Strawberry Point; and many nieces and nephews.

Lenny was preceded in death by his parents, Merton and Bertha; his parents-in-law Raymond and Virginia Ridenour; and brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Lyle and Dorothy Phelps, Lillian and Clarence Handke, Leland and Vivian Phelps, Lowell and Jeannine Phelps, Lois and Jack Hill, and Ronald Bushaw.

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