Leon Charles Kelchen

Leon Charles Kelchen, 79, of Manchester, Iowa, formerly of Dundee, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, November 25, 2018, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. He was born on June 21, 1939, in Worthington, the son of Peter and Florence (Leigh) Kelchen.  Leon was raised and educated in Greeley.

Leon met his future bride, Dixie, while he was a patient at the Delaware County Memorial Hospital.  Leon’s mom thought that they were just right for each other and set them up on a date. On September 4, 1965, Leon was united in marriage to Dixie Lea Wright.  Five children were born to this union.  The family lived in Manchester from 1965 until 1971. They then moved to their home in Dundee.  They remained there until 2016. 

Leon worked at Henderson’s in Manchester for 16 years.  He then worked at the Edgewood Building Center until the time of his retirement.  Leon and Dixie enjoyed dancing and playing cards. He was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church and was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus.  Leon was also a longtime member of the Dundee Fire Department. He loved his family and enjoyed telling jokes.

Survivors include his five children, Lynette (Jim) Perlikiewicz of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lonnie (Helena) Kelchen of Strawberry Point, Dean (Susan) Kelchen of Manchester, Dana (Galen) Wickman of Lisbon, and Duane Kelchen of Manchester; ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; one sister, Elsie (Emil) Althoff of Earlville; two brothers, Harold (Pearl) Kelchen of Ryan, and LeRoy (Roselyn) Kelchen of Dyersville; three sisters-in-law, Norma Kelchen of Manchester, Roseann Kelchen and Mary Kelchen, both of Edgewood; and many nieces and nephews.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dixie Kelchen; two sisters, Verna Kelchen and Grace (Clete) Burkle; four brothers, Ernest, Lloyd, Eugene, and Gerald Kelchen; and two sisters-in-law, Marianna Kelchen and Irma Kelchen.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leon Charles Kelchen, please visit our floral store.