Funeral services for Leland Schuhardt, 96, of Perry will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Murdock Funeral Home. Burial with Military Honors will follow at the Violet Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Murdock Funeral Home.
Memorials in Leland’s name will be directed to the Perry Public Library.
Leland passed away Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at the Spring Valley Retirement Community in Perry, Iowa.
Leland Clifford Schuhardt was born on a farm seven miles southwest of Perry, the son of Paul C. and Edith E. (Hutchinson) Schuhardt on July 8, 1923.
He attended county school, Coffee Number Seven, thru the eighth grade and graduated from Washington Township School in 1941.
After graduation, he traveled to California to work for San Diego Gas and Electric Co.
Leland was inducted into the U.S. Army Jan. 22, 1943. He was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corp’s 442nd Troop Carrier Group. One of his many campaigns was participating in the operations for the D-Day invasion by loading equipment on the C-47s.
He was Honorably Discharged Dec. 3, 1945. Leland was later called back to serve in the Reserves during Korean War time but served stateside in Southridge Field, Michigan.
He came home to continue farming south of Perry and on May 8, 1954, married Ruth Janelle Jacobsen of Perry. A few years later, they started their family with sons Randy in 1958 and Timothy in 1962.
Leland farmed well into his 80s and always lived life to the fullest. He had so many adventures in his life while traveling across the country and around the world to places in South America, Africa and Europe. He also traveled to Alaska a few years ago, when he was in his 90s.
He loved going to coffee with the guys, reading and playing cards. He golfed in a league at the Perry Golf and Country Club until a few years ago.
But most importantly, he loved and was extremely proud of his family.
Survivors include two sons, Randy (Shannon) Schuhardt of Perry and Timothy (Denise) Schuhardt of Perry; grandchildren, Sara Schuhardt of Greeley, Colorado, Brittany (Kyle) Cousins of DeSoto, Joshua (Whitney) Schuhardt of West Des Moines and Jace Schuhardt of Perry.
Leland was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, on Dec. 25, 2012; his parents; and one sister, Mary Helen Smithson.
