Leona Anna Marie Danker

Marengo- Leona Anna Marie Danker was born March 25, 1933, in Van Horne, Iowa, the daughter of Hans and Lena (Hessenius) Petersen. She graduated from Van Horne High School in 1951. Leona was united in marriage to John H. Danker on November 27, 1955, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Newhall, Iowa. She worked as a bookkeeper for Joyce Lumber in Van Horne and Vinton, Marengo Jaycee Theater, Marengo Elevator for 16 years, Farm and Home and retired from the Marengo Bank after 20 years. Leona was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marengo, where she sang in the church choir for many years. She has sung solos and with choirs since the age of 16. Leona enjoyed playing bridge both singles and couples and they won a few Couples Bridge Marathon championships in Marengo. She enjoyed being with her grandchildren and following the family favorites of music and baseball. Leona died on Monday, May 19, 2025, at Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo at the age of 92 years.

She is survived by a son Mark (Sarri) Danker of Fayette; five grandchildren Whitney (Ian) Griffith, Joshua (Emily), Jonathan, Samuel (Tatum Sharp), and Levi Danker; a great grandson Elias Griffith; a daughter-in-law Julie Danker of Waterloo; and a sister-in-law Bernice Petersen of Anamosa. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son Steven Danker, brothers, Harold (Lauretta), Wilbert (Velma), Ralph (Patty), and Lorenz Petersen, and a sister Frances Hapfeld.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 am on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Marengo. Burial will follow in the Marengo Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. John's Lutheran Church. Powell Funeral Home in Marengo is caring for Leona and her family. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.