Leonard O’Hair

Leonard Lee O’Hair, 83, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 25, 2021, at 6:56 p.m. in the arms of his Sweetheart. He went to be with his Lord after twenty years of living with Parkinson’s Disease. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2021 with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time at McLaren’s. Burial will be at Walnut Township Cemetery in Waukee. Please join the live stream at www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com.

Leonard shared his, May 12, 1937, birthdate with his identical twin brother, Edward. He was the son of Lester and Ida Ruth (Leek) O’Hair and was born and raised in Centerville, IA. Leonard and his brother helped their dad in the family-owned grocery store. He graduated from Centerville HS in 1955 and earned a scholarship to play the trumpet, along with his brother, in the University of Iowa Band. One of the highlights was to perform in the Rose Bowl Parade. After receiving a business degree, Leonard joined the National Guard and received an honorable discharge. He worked at National Travelers Life for 24 years, and retired from American Mutual, ten years later. After retirement, he worked at Employers Modern Life for a couple years. He made many friends along the way being a member of the Masons, the Scottish Rite and ZA Ga Zig shrine. Leonard played his trumpet in the shrine orchestra, parades and polka band for many years and was always willing and proud to play taps for the World War I Veterans when they met, annually, in Des Moines.

Leonard loved being involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He especially loved their visits whether in person or on a daily basis on the phone. He enjoyed Lake Rathbun during those working years and retired to the Lake of the Ozarks in 1999, before returning to Urbandale in 2013. He loved to boat, camp, fish, ride his four-wheeler and play his trumpet.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Greg (Melissa) O’Hair of Westfield, IN and Jeff (Laura) O’Hair of Kansas City, MO; step daughters, Lori (Brian) Billings of Urbandale, IA and Kathy (Mark) Myers of Des Moines, IA; brother, Edward O’Hair of Indianola, IA; mother of his sons, Beverly (Doug) Duysen of Kearney, MO; grandchildren, Benjamin, Alexandrea, Annabelle, Anderson, Mitchell, Ethan, Emily, Taylor, Jacob, Nick, Braeden, Josh and Danny. He was preceded in death by both parents; sister, Patricia Crow and brother-in-law, Leo Crow; sister-in-law, Janet O’Hair; along with his beloved golden retrievers, Alfie and Jake.

The family wants to thank everyone at Independence Village (previously, Village of Legacy Pointe) in Waukee for their care the last 2 years and ten months. Thanks, also to Suncrest Hospice for their loving care, since August, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Waukee Christian Church, of which Leonard was a member or the Iowa Chapter American Parkinson Disease Assoc. (APDA), PO Box 643, Ankeny, IA 50020.