Leonard Joseph Harrington 1930 - 2024

ROEDER, HARRINGTON, HOLCOMB

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/19/2025 at 08:10:39

Sioux City Journal
14 January 2025

Leonard Joseph Harrington

December 22, 1930 - December 11, 2024

Leonard Joseph Harrington, 93, of Omaha, Neb., took his last breath at home on December 11, 2024, just shy 11 days of his 94th birthday.

Private family services will be held in the spring.

Leonard was born on December 22, 1930, in Hazleton, Iowa to Raymond and Elvera (Roeder) Harrington. An only child, Leonard was raised on the farm homesteaded by his ancestors. He spent his childhood experiencing farm life where he learned about crops and livestock, tractors and farm machinery, shooting pigeons in the barn, raising a pony, dogs and cats, and developed a passion for learning about and studying cattle.

He graduated from Hazelton High School with the Class of 1948. He continued his education receiving his college degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University in 1952.

Leonard began his career working in the livestock industry for Wilson Packing Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and later in Maquoketa, Iowa. The family relocated to Sioux City, Iowa in 1961 when Leonard had an opportunity to become a cattle buyer for Needham Packing Company covering the Sioux City Stockyards. In 1972, Leonard began a 20-year career working for Foxley Cattle Company in Omaha, Neb. He was in charge of cattle operations when the company was the largest cattle owner in the country. Later, when Foxley acquired Flavorland (a Fortune 500 company) in Sioux City, Iowa, Leonard became Divisional President.

Leonard married Nancy Lee Holcomb in 1954. Together they had three children; Susan, John, and David. The couple later divorced. In 1993, Leonard married Mavis (Woods) Johnson and they remained happily married until his death.

Early on Leonard took Nancy and their children on several memorable camping trips visiting the Black Hills, Mackinac Island, and Wisconsin Dells.

Leonard was an intelligent man and a prolific reader. For many years, he regularly subscribed to three daily newspapers, perusing the pages cover to cover. He was well-versed in local, national, and world current events. In addition, he always had his nose in a book. He especially enjoyed reading about Warren Buffett, Tom Brokaw, and the Kennedy family.

In retirement, Leonard and Mavis enjoyed traveling to Arizona. They embraced the "Snowbird" lifestyle, leaving the often brutally cold Midwest winters to soak up the sun in the Ahwatukee Foothills, part of the East Valley region of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The couple took many drives exploring nearby communities and the beautiful Southwest desert landscape. They enjoyed many social activities through the years at the neighborhood recreation center.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Mavis, of Omaha, Neb.; children, Susan Hunnel (Ray) Sherman, of Dakota Dunes, S.D.; John (Kim) Harrington, of Danville, Calif.; David Harrington, of Palm Springs, Calif.; Mike (Mary) Johnson, of Omaha, Neb.; Lori (Joe) Dueling, of Tekamah, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; and a son-in-law, Glenn E. Hunnel.

The family would like to express their gratitude to FirstLight Home Care of Omaha and Suncrest Hospice of Omaha.