Donald H. Lealos

Funeral service for Donald Henry Lealos, 86, of Eden Prairie, formerly of Babbitt, will be 10:30 am Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Aurora will Pastor Barb Hegfors officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Aurora/Hoyt Lakes Color Guard. Interment will be in the Memorial Cemetery in Hoyt Lakes. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Homes of Gilbert and Aurora. Memorials are preferred to East Range Hospice. Donald H. Lealos passed away, Sunday, April 13, 2014 in Minneapolis, MN. Born on March 24, 1928 to Edward and Etta (Coulter) Lealos in rural East Grand Forks, MN and attended schools in East Grand Forks. After graduation in 1944 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater. During the 1950 Korean conflict, the National Guard Unit he was a member of was activated and he became an Atomic Veteran. He witnessed the above ground testing of the Hydrogen Bomb in Yucca Flats, NV. He also served in the Army where he served as a chauffeur during the San Francisco Peace Treaty. In 1953 he met and married his wife Mary (Isaacson) Lealos in Eveleth, MN. He was employed by Minnesota Power in Aurora, MN and in 1959 he purchased a Mobil Service Station and operated it until 1970. During those years he sponsored a successful fast pitch softball team that gave him so much pleasure. He was awarded Aurora “Businessman” of the year for his community service. In 1962 he and several other volunteers began the Aurora Youth Hockey organization, Don was president for 13 years. He coached, fund raised, cleared rinks and flooded rinks for all those years. In 1970 he began working for Reserve Mining Company in Babbitt as a Boiler Engineer.  In 1972, he was awarded the President’s Award for the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA). After moving to Babbitt, MN in 1976 he continued coaching youth hockey. He retired in 1994 from Cleveland Cliffs. Don also ran the Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament for 4 years; the 15-2 Cribbage Club for years and was chairman of many cribbage tournaments in the area. Active in the Range Senior Golf league and the Babbitt Senior Tournament. He loved going to the annual 4th of July Parade in Aurora to reminisce with former softball players, hockey players, his Mobil employees, and old friends. Survived by: Wife of 60 years, Mary of Eden Prairie, Son Paul of Eden Prairie, Son Michael (Kathy)of Holiday, FL. Grandson Eric (Mary) of Chaska, MN, Grandson Aaron (Amy)of Billings, MT and 7 Great Grandchildren. Sister Daralyne of Phoenix, Az. and numerous nieces and nephews Preceded in death by: Parents and siblings Edward, Robert, Douglas, Lucille, Dorothy