Leo J. Lidd, 89, of Charles City, died Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at 9th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.
A funeral Mass for Leo Lidd will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Monsignor Stanley Hayek will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.
Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday where a Scriptural Pray service will be held at 7 p.m. followed by the Knights of Columbus Rosary. Visitation will continue Saturday at the church an hour prior to the Mass.
Leo John Lidd was born September 4, 1921, at Shenandoah, the son of Leo and Mary (Foley) Lidd. He graduated in 1939 from Immaculate Conception Catholic High School in Charles City and in 1943 as salutatorian of his Loras College graduating class in Dubuque. Leo proudly served in the United States Navy where at the age of 24 he was one of fifteen officers on the combat ship USS Tinsman serving in the Pacific. He retired as a Navy Commander after 27 years of active/reserve duty. After returning from active duty in 1947 he joined his Father and Grandfather at Lidd’s Clothing Store in Charles City. On May 29, 1948, he was united in marriage to Helen Christensen at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. Leo was very active in the Scouting program having served as a Scout Leader for over 29 years. He and his sons were all Eagle Scouts. Leo received both the prestigious Saint George’s Award and Silver Beaver Award. Over the years Leo was very active in the community as a city councilman and, also, as a key figure in the urban renewal project following the May 15, 1968 tornado. In 1981 he was named Charles City’s Man of the Year. Leo was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Rotary Club, Elks Club and Moose Lodge. He was also instrumental in establishing the Little League program and was a coach for several years. His other interests included golfing, traveling, and going on family trips. Family was also important to Leo and he took every opportunity to share his life with them.
Living family members include his wife of 63 years, Helen Lidd of Charles City; four sons, Bob (Bev) Lidd of Lafayette, Ind., Tom Lidd and partner Jane Kelly of Cedar Rapids, Mike (Peg) Lidd of Charles City, and Steve (Vicki) Lidd of Irvine, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Paula Lidd; and three sisters, Eleanor Ziegenfuss, Rita Cordray and Marie Lidd in infancy.
The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
