Leonard E. Borel, 84, of Humboldt, passed away April 10, 2013 at the Humboldt Care Center South. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Humboldt. Interment will be in Clarion Cemetery. Visitation for Leonard will be immediately following the Mass during lunch in St. Mary’s Parish Hall.
Leonard Edward Borel, the son of James Edward and Catherine (O’Connor) Borel, was born May 7, 1928 on a farm near Rowen, Iowa. Following the death of his father, Leonard made his home with his Uncle Charlie and attended Catholic School in Eagle Grove. Following his graduation from Eagle Grove High School, Leonard went to work for Farmland Co. and on August 19, 1950 he was united in marriage to Thelia Hinton. The couple made their home at Eagle Grove until a transfer with Farmland took the family to Des Moines. Leonard was a truck driver for Farmland for 50 years until his retirement in 1991. He was proud of his record of over 1,000,000 miles without an accident and was named Iowa Driver of the Year in 1985-86. Following his retirement he remained active driving for Crawford Trucking until the age of 74. In 2004, he and Thelia moved to Humboldt.
Leonard was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He loved his work, but most of all loved his family who will always remember Leonard as a kind and mild man. He took great pride in his grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed following their sporting events.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Thelia of Humboldt; daughter, Deborah (Giles) Varrelmann of Fort Dodge and Hampton, and Lucinda (Michael) Kunert of Goldfield; daughter in law, Nancy (Glen) Preslar of Raleigh, NC; 8 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and his brother, Richard Borel of Woodridge, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Stephen; sisters, Margaret Varrelmann, Marian Kunert, and Ruth Allo; and brother, Willard Borel.