Leslie Slaubaugh

Leslie Celeste Slaubaugh, age 78, of Wellman, passed away peacefully March 11, 2026, with her family by her side at Brown Deer Memory Care in Coralville.

Leslie was born on July 29, 1947, to Carl and Bertilla (Driscoll) Hogendorn. She grew up with her three brothers and six sisters in North English, Iowa, where she graduated from English Valley High School in 1965. She went on to receive her certification from Young’s School of Cosmetology in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In a hometown pageant she was voted “Miss Congeniality” by her fellow contestants.

On April 8, 1967, Leslie was united in marriage to Doug Slaubaugh, and they were blessed to celebrate 58 years together as husband and wife. Leslie and Doug raised their four children: Steve, Tom, Julie, and Scott, in Wellman, Iowa. She cherished her close connection with her eight grandchildren: Jacob Slaubaugh, Joshua (Mikayla) Slaubaugh, Hailey Slaubaugh, Ryan Slaubaugh, Aaron Slaubaugh, Emma Slaubaugh, Avery Slaubaugh and Payton Frye; and her great-granddaughter Liza Slaubaugh.

Leslie was deeply committed to Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church. She was a devout and involved member of St. Joseph’s Church, where she impacted the faith lives of others through the ministries of the Teen COR Parent Team, Christian Experience Weekends, serving as a marriage sponsor couple with Doug and as president of the parish’s Altar & Rosary Society.

She believed in bettering her community and often volunteered at various events, frequently alongside her Beta Sigma Phi sorority sisters. Leslie provided day care for children of several Mid-Prairie school teachers, as well as some of her grandchildren. She was very well known for her dedication to fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and, in 2007, was honored with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Leslie and Doug truly enjoyed watching their grandchildren participate in activities together. She loved going camping, playing cards, dancing, listening to Elvis, decorating her home for all holidays, driving the SAG wagon for friends riding RAGBRAI and traveling with her sisters. Most of all, Leslie found joy in the company of her many friends and her large family. She will be remembered for her caring heart and generosity, as a second mom to many, and that she made her home a constant gathering place. Throughout her married life, she became “Mrs. Congeniality” to all who knew her!

She is survived by her husband, Doug; children Tom (Kate) Slaubaugh, Julie (Chris) Frye and Scott (Nicole) Slaubaugh; daughter-in-law Kari (Scott) Dolash; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and siblings Terry Hogendorn, Jo Rae Pieffer, Marsha Raitt, Denise Naughton, Honore Johnston, Kris Lacina, April Rouner and Lenny Hogendorn. She was preceded in death by her son, Steve Slaubaugh; brother, David Hogendorn; parents, Carl and Bertilla Hogendorn; and in-laws Urie and Elsie Slaubaugh.

Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 am Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wellman. Burial will be in the Wellman Cemetery with a reception to follow at the church.

Visitation will be Monday, March 16, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, beginning with a Rosary at 3:30 pm at the Powell Funeral Home in Wellman. A memorial fund has been established for Holy Family Parish. Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.