Wilbur Landphair

Leslie Wilbur Landphair was born to Katie and Kingsley Landphair March 20, 1919 on the family farm in southern Decatur County near Pleasanton, Iowa. Wilbur was welcomed by older sister Lavera, and was later joined by younger siblings Venita, Blanch, Harl, Charles, Helen, Donald, and Macyl. Wilbur passed away at the age of 92 on December 17th, 2011 at the Clearview Nursing Home with daughter Karen (husband Stan) Means and son Ron (wife Martha) Landphair at his side.
Wilbur attended school in Leon, Iowa. He received his 8th grade promotion certificate in 1934. As the eldest son during difficult times Wilbur chose to help on the family farm rather than continue his formal education. After attending a welding training course in Des Moines, Iowa, Wilbur found employment as a welder in Des Moines.
On November 10, 1942 he was united in marriage to Nola Corll in Princeton, Missouri. To this union were born two children daughter Karen and son Ronald. After a short time of farming in Decatur County the family moved to Ringgold County, near Nola's family farm. Wilbur was mechanically inclined and held jobs driving a rural tank wagon for Skelly Petroleum Company and as a mechanic for the Carr Motor Company. In 1946 he began working for Iowa Southern Utility Company now known as Alliant Energy. Wilbur started out as a lineman climbing poles and maintaining the main electrical lines. He later became an appliance repairman. Wilbur worked for Iowa Southern for 35 years and retired in 1981 at the age of 62.
Wilbur and Nola enjoyed playing card games with neighbors, family, and friends. Traveling, camping, and fishing were favorite pastimes. Wilbur was a Boy Scout Leader and took great pride in helping young boys enjoy the outdoors. Wilbur could fix anything and often was called upon by family and friends to fix items in need of repair or construction.
Upon retirement Wilbur and Nola joined the snowbird migration and spent many winters in Texas. Wilbur loved to take his grandchildren camping and fishing. He helped the kids put worms or bait on the hook and took fish off the hook more than he fished himself. After battling a second diagnosis of cancer Wilbur found it necessary to move to the Clearview Estates assisted living in Mt. Ayr. Wilbur enjoyed his time spent at Clearview and looked upon the staff as his second family.
Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents; siblings LaVera Cowles, and Harl Landphair; brothers-in-law, Paul Snyder, Dean Piper, Dale Cowles, Arthur May, Wallace (Jack) Terwilliger, Junior Reynolds, William Corll, Donald Corll, and Lester Corll; sisters-law Susie Corll, Robyn May, and Fern Reynolds; great granddaughter Anna Catherine Landphair.
Survivors include daughter Karen (Stanley A.) Means of Villisca, Iowa; son Ronald (Martha) Landphair of Mount Ayr, Iowa; grandchildren Brent (Billee) Means, Clint (Shona) Means, Tyson (Tina) Means of Villisca, Iowa, Robyn (Joe) Benco of Scottsdale, Arizona, Nicole (Dave) Opfer of Urbandale, Iowa and Ronald C. (Allyson) Landphair of Dike, Iowa; thirteen great grandchildren; brothers Charles (Dee) Landphair of Humeston, Iowa, Don (Rene) Landphair of Maple Park, Illinois; sisters Venita Snyder of Corydon, Iowa, Blanche (Jim) Gifford of West Minister, Colorado, Helen Piper of Pasorobles, California, Doris Landphair of Leon, Iowa, and Macyl (Dick) Reeves of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters-in-laws Louise Corll of Ankeny, Iowa and Lola Terwilliger of Mount Ayr, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
A memorial fund has been established for HCI Care Services in Mount Ayr.