Leon E. Cochran, age 67, of Pepin, Wisconsin, died Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus after suffering a stroke the day before. He was born at home in Russell, Lucas County, Iowa on July 11, 1947, the sixth child of Albert and Georgianna (Davis) Cochran. Leon attended country school in the Greeneville area and when redistricting occurred, he attended Russell Community School, graduating in May of 1966. Leon loved sports. He played baseball, basketball and football during his high school years. After graduation, Leon went to work on the Burlington-Northern Railroad with the help of his neighbor and friend, Bill Penney. They worked together for a number of years in the Signal Department.
He attended church with his family, participating in Sunday school, VBS, and other family activities. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at a young age and was baptized later at Sunnyslope Baptist Church after attending revival meetings that week.
Leon married his high school sweetheart, Connie Long, at the First Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa. In their early married life, they lived in Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, where he worked for Hy-Vee. They later moved back to the Russell community. Leon decided to further his education, attending Indian Hills Community College, taking computer programming classes. Since this did not seem to suit him, after a short time he went back to work on the Burlington-Northern Railroad as a Signalman. He became a Maintainer some years later. Leon and Connie moved to Pepin, Wisconsin in 1991 when Leon accepted a position as Assistant General Chairman-Secretary/Treasurer for the Burlington-Northern General Committee.
He was very active in community groups and his church. He was diagnosed with diabetes after suffering a stroke in 1996. At this time, he was actively serving on five community boards, teaching adult Sunday school and serving on the church board. His disability prevented him from continuing to serve on these boards and he had to retire from his work at this time.
Leon will remain forever in the hearts of his wife, Connie, three daughters, Jodie (Lynn) Seifert, Jennifer (David) Alsum, and Julie (Philip) Stegemann; grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Evan, Lily, and Kaylee; and Godchildren, Zachary and Amanda. He is also survived by brother, David (Glenda) Cochran; sisters, Lauritta Relph, Veva (Jackie) Curtis, Jeanette (Marvin) Buckalew; brother-in-law, Bob D’Orville; nieces, nephews and cousins. Leon is also survived by his mother in law: Mildred Long, sisters in law: Judi (Jerry) Huseman, Sandy (Bob) Brown, brother in law: Steve (Kellie) Long. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Georgianna Cochran and sister, Alberta D’Orville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pepin with the Reverend Karna Marks officiating. Musical selections will be provided by Tom Ahlstrom. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Pepin. Casket bearers will be Devon Carroll, Harley Cochran, Chris Foutch, Dennis Kanakulya, Steve Long, and Chris Querrey. Honorary bearers will be Tom Ahlstrom, Jim Fayerweather, John Houston, Zachary Houston, and Danny Kircher. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday, one hour before the service.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Pepin Ambulance crew; all the doctors and nurses of Mayo Health System-Wabasha Clinic, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha and St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester; and to Reverend Karna Marks and Tom Ahlstrom for their loving care of Leon and his family. Thanks also to the women of Immanuel Lutheran WELCA for providing the meal.
Obituary and Photo were published online from Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha, MN.
He attended church with his family, participating in Sunday school, VBS, and other family activities. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at a young age and was baptized later at Sunnyslope Baptist Church after attending revival meetings that week.
Leon married his high school sweetheart, Connie Long, at the First Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa. In their early married life, they lived in Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, where he worked for Hy-Vee. They later moved back to the Russell community. Leon decided to further his education, attending Indian Hills Community College, taking computer programming classes. Since this did not seem to suit him, after a short time he went back to work on the Burlington-Northern Railroad as a Signalman. He became a Maintainer some years later. Leon and Connie moved to Pepin, Wisconsin in 1991 when Leon accepted a position as Assistant General Chairman-Secretary/Treasurer for the Burlington-Northern General Committee.
He was very active in community groups and his church. He was diagnosed with diabetes after suffering a stroke in 1996. At this time, he was actively serving on five community boards, teaching adult Sunday school and serving on the church board. His disability prevented him from continuing to serve on these boards and he had to retire from his work at this time.
Leon will remain forever in the hearts of his wife, Connie, three daughters, Jodie (Lynn) Seifert, Jennifer (David) Alsum, and Julie (Philip) Stegemann; grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Evan, Lily, and Kaylee; and Godchildren, Zachary and Amanda. He is also survived by brother, David (Glenda) Cochran; sisters, Lauritta Relph, Veva (Jackie) Curtis, Jeanette (Marvin) Buckalew; brother-in-law, Bob D’Orville; nieces, nephews and cousins. Leon is also survived by his mother in law: Mildred Long, sisters in law: Judi (Jerry) Huseman, Sandy (Bob) Brown, brother in law: Steve (Kellie) Long. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Georgianna Cochran and sister, Alberta D’Orville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pepin with the Reverend Karna Marks officiating. Musical selections will be provided by Tom Ahlstrom. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Pepin. Casket bearers will be Devon Carroll, Harley Cochran, Chris Foutch, Dennis Kanakulya, Steve Long, and Chris Querrey. Honorary bearers will be Tom Ahlstrom, Jim Fayerweather, John Houston, Zachary Houston, and Danny Kircher. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday, one hour before the service.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Pepin Ambulance crew; all the doctors and nurses of Mayo Health System-Wabasha Clinic, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha and St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester; and to Reverend Karna Marks and Tom Ahlstrom for their loving care of Leon and his family. Thanks also to the women of Immanuel Lutheran WELCA for providing the meal.
Obituary and Photo were published online from Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha, MN.
Leon E. Cochran, age 67, of Pepin, Wisconsin, died Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus after suffering a stroke the day before. He was born at home in Russell, Lucas County, Iowa on July 11, 1947, the sixth child of Albert and Georgianna (Davis) Cochran. Leon attended country school in the Greeneville area and when redistricting occurred, he attended Russell Community School, graduating in May of 1966. Leon loved sports. He played baseball, basketball and football during his high school years. After graduation, Leon went to work on the Burlington-Northern Railroad with the help of his neighbor and friend, Bill Penney. They worked together for a number of years in the Signal Department.
He attended church with his family, participating in Sunday school, VBS, and other family activities. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at a young age and was baptized later at Sunnyslope Baptist Church after attending revival meetings that week.
Leon married his high school sweetheart, Connie Long, at the First Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa. In their early married life, they lived in Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, where he worked for Hy-Vee. They later moved back to the Russell community. Leon decided to further his education, attending Indian Hills Community College, taking computer programming classes. Since this did not seem to suit him, after a short time he went back to work on the Burlington-Northern Railroad as a Signalman. He became a Maintainer some years later. Leon and Connie moved to Pepin, Wisconsin in 1991 when Leon accepted a position as Assistant General Chairman-Secretary/Treasurer for the Burlington-Northern General Committee.
He was very active in community groups and his church. He was diagnosed with diabetes after suffering a stroke in 1996. At this time, he was actively serving on five community boards, teaching adult Sunday school and serving on the church board. His disability prevented him from continuing to serve on these boards and he had to retire from his work at this time.
Leon will remain forever in the hearts of his wife, Connie, three daughters, Jodie (Lynn) Seifert, Jennifer (David) Alsum, and Julie (Philip) Stegemann; grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Evan, Lily, and Kaylee; and Godchildren, Zachary and Amanda. He is also survived by brother, David (Glenda) Cochran; sisters, Lauritta Relph, Veva (Jackie) Curtis, Jeanette (Marvin) Buckalew; brother-in-law, Bob D’Orville; nieces, nephews and cousins. Leon is also survived by his mother in law: Mildred Long, sisters in law: Judi (Jerry) Huseman, Sandy (Bob) Brown, brother in law: Steve (Kellie) Long. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Georgianna Cochran and sister, Alberta D’Orville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pepin with the Reverend Karna Marks officiating. Musical selections will be provided by Tom Ahlstrom. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Pepin. Casket bearers will be Devon Carroll, Harley Cochran, Chris Foutch, Dennis Kanakulya, Steve Long, and Chris Querrey. Honorary bearers will be Tom Ahlstrom, Jim Fayerweather, John Houston, Zachary Houston, and Danny Kircher. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday, one hour before the service.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Pepin Ambulance crew; all the doctors and nurses of Mayo Health System-Wabasha Clinic, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha and St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester; and to Reverend Karna Marks and Tom Ahlstrom for their loving care of Leon and his family. Thanks also to the women of Immanuel Lutheran WELCA for providing the meal.
Obituary and Photo were published online from Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha, MN.
He attended church with his family, participating in Sunday school, VBS, and other family activities. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at a young age and was baptized later at Sunnyslope Baptist Church after attending revival meetings that week.
Leon married his high school sweetheart, Connie Long, at the First Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa. In their early married life, they lived in Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, where he worked for Hy-Vee. They later moved back to the Russell community. Leon decided to further his education, attending Indian Hills Community College, taking computer programming classes. Since this did not seem to suit him, after a short time he went back to work on the Burlington-Northern Railroad as a Signalman. He became a Maintainer some years later. Leon and Connie moved to Pepin, Wisconsin in 1991 when Leon accepted a position as Assistant General Chairman-Secretary/Treasurer for the Burlington-Northern General Committee.
He was very active in community groups and his church. He was diagnosed with diabetes after suffering a stroke in 1996. At this time, he was actively serving on five community boards, teaching adult Sunday school and serving on the church board. His disability prevented him from continuing to serve on these boards and he had to retire from his work at this time.
Leon will remain forever in the hearts of his wife, Connie, three daughters, Jodie (Lynn) Seifert, Jennifer (David) Alsum, and Julie (Philip) Stegemann; grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Evan, Lily, and Kaylee; and Godchildren, Zachary and Amanda. He is also survived by brother, David (Glenda) Cochran; sisters, Lauritta Relph, Veva (Jackie) Curtis, Jeanette (Marvin) Buckalew; brother-in-law, Bob D’Orville; nieces, nephews and cousins. Leon is also survived by his mother in law: Mildred Long, sisters in law: Judi (Jerry) Huseman, Sandy (Bob) Brown, brother in law: Steve (Kellie) Long. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Georgianna Cochran and sister, Alberta D’Orville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pepin with the Reverend Karna Marks officiating. Musical selections will be provided by Tom Ahlstrom. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Pepin. Casket bearers will be Devon Carroll, Harley Cochran, Chris Foutch, Dennis Kanakulya, Steve Long, and Chris Querrey. Honorary bearers will be Tom Ahlstrom, Jim Fayerweather, John Houston, Zachary Houston, and Danny Kircher. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday, one hour before the service.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Pepin Ambulance crew; all the doctors and nurses of Mayo Health System-Wabasha Clinic, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha and St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester; and to Reverend Karna Marks and Tom Ahlstrom for their loving care of Leon and his family. Thanks also to the women of Immanuel Lutheran WELCA for providing the meal.
Obituary and Photo were published online from Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha, MN.
