Leona Wreghitt

Leona “Snooks” May Wreghitt, 90, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at the IOOF Home, Mason City.

A Celebration of Life memorial luncheon will be held at 12 p.m., Monday, June 10, at the Lake View Room, 10 N. Lakeview Dr., Clear Lake; with Mark Doebel leading the memorial. Visitation will follow the memorial lunch until 3 p.m.  Inurnment will take place in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Swaledale.

Leona May was born Sept. 5, 1933, in Mason City, the daughter of Samuel Sr. and Agnes (Kopitar) Ewing. Leona “Snooks” spent her childhood running the woods of what is now the Lime Creek Reserve with her brothers Sam Jr. “Sonny” and Jerry “Tutti.” 

Leona graduated from Mason City High School. As fate would have it, she met Lloyd Wreghitt at the Bayside Roller-Skating Rink in Clear Lake. On Sept. 12, 1954, Leona was united in marriage to Lloyd F. Wreghitt, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City; to this union they were blessed with two children, Randall “Randy” and Sheryl “Sherri.”

Leona and Lloyd enjoyed traveling with their children to the contiguous 48 states exploring all the National Parks.  They were adventurous taking fishing trips to Canada, snowmobiling and camping with friends and family. Leona and Lloyd celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Paris! Leona had a passion to entertain for card parties, square dancing groups and their family 4th of July celebration and their annual fish fry. Her specialty baking was rhubarb custard and pecan pie. Other interests included being prolific at crafting, whether it was painting home décor, Christmas ornaments, knitting, Swedish weaving afghans or counted cross stitch; she was never idle.

Lloyd and Leona were aviation enthusiasts owning their own leisure plane.  They wintered in their motorhome to Texas for over 30 years.  Leona relished the lake, water skiing, boating, fishing and her most favorite - sunning. Many Thanksgiving holidays, were spent in New York City, visiting their son, Randy, and attending all of his Broadway productions.

Leona was employed by the State of Iowa working in the Iowa Welcome Center, north of Clear Lake; where she welcomed visitors and gave directions and highlighted Iowa tourist attractions.  Leona worked alongside her husband, Lloyd, who owned and operated Aerial Ag Service, Lloyd was a crop duster.  Leona was the office manager for the business until her retirement in 2003.

Leona is survived by her daughter, Sherri Wreghitt, Clear Lake; one brother-in-law; sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews and their families.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Agnes (Kopitar) Ewing; husband, Lloyd Wreghitt on July 20, 2008; son, Randall “Randy” L. Wreghitt on May 18, 2011; brothers, Jerry Ewing and Ron “Spike” Ewing; brother-in-law, John “Bud” and his wife, Betty Ball; brother-in-law, Dennis Nonweiler; father and mother-law, Bill and Margaret (Borton) Wreghitt; and brother-in-law, William B. Wreghitt.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake is in charge of arrangements.