Leon Herndon

Leon Herndon, age 87, of Eldora, IA passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.

Leon was born June 18, 1938 on a farm south of New Providence to George and Lemma (Rhoads) Herndon. He grew up in the rural area of New Providence and Eldora and graduated from Eldora High School in 1956.

He married Barbara Mairs on November 1, 1958 in Des Moines, IA and welcomed daughters, Beth in 1959 and Brenda in 1963. The family moved from town to their current acreage in 1970.

Leon began his working career at Risse & Miller in Eldora on his 18th birthday and continued there through the name changes of RAMCO and Dayco for 35 years. He later sold cars and then real estate for both Steelman Real Estate and Leonard Realty.

Leon enjoyed restoring old tractors, cars and his "little red truck." For over 25 years, he participated in several antique tractor rides throughout the state of Iowa, sometimes joined by his sons-in-law and grandchildren. Along the way he met many new friends who enjoyed talking about tractors with him.

Leon was a member of the Pine Lake County Club and both he and Barb enjoyed playing golf. Leon played in the Lennox/Quakerdale Invitational Pro-Am Golf Tournament for 18 years and up until he lost his golf partner, Ruben Camacho, in Mid-Iowa Over 50 Golf during several summers.

Although he couldn't make it to everything, Leon enjoyed following all the activities of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be greatly missed by all.

Leon is survived by his wife Barb; daughters Beth (Kevin) Nederhoff, Wellsburg, IA and Brenda (Jeff) Gore, Eldora, IA; grandchildren and great-grandchildren Alex (Liz) Nederhoff, Colt and Aria, DeForest, WI; Austin (Victoria) Nederhoff, Savannah and Brooke, Wellsburg, IA; Aaron (Taryn Swaim) Nederhoff, West Des Moines, IA; Rachel (Kent Follett) Fulton, Layla, Union, IA; Reid (Brooke) Fulton, Reece, Rylee, Bodee and Burklee, Eldora, IA; Kristin (Jeff) Kuennen, Chase, Marion, IA; Bridget Primus, Addison and Tyson, Denver, IA; Matt (Jordan) Gore, Addison, Collin and Jacey, Eldora, IA; brother-in-law Rob (Kay) Mairs, Ashton, IL; sisters-in law Nan Mairs, Sun City, AZ and Lois Mairs, Eldora, IA; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Caroll (Marie) Herndon, sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ellen (Don) Gibbs, brothers-in-law Tom Mairs and Dennis Mairs, great-granddaughter Anna Marie Nederhoff and his faithful canine companions Babe, Sam and Zoey.