Leo Nady

Leo L. Nady passed away peacefully at the Sanford Hospice Cottages on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. Leo was born on Feb. 15th, 1921, in Fairfield, IA, to Leo and Marion Nady. He was the oldest of four children. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1938 where, among other things, he was interested in math. He carried that interest on to Iowa State University where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. He also was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He met the love of his life, Fonda Gustafson, while attending Iowa State and they were married at her parents lake cabin at Lake Okoboji, IA, on August 25th, 1942. Shortly after their wedding, Leo was called to serve his country as an officer in the United States Army engaged in World War II. He helped train troops in the US for two years before going overseas in the fall of 1944, serving with the 1st Army in Belgium. Their first child, Leo Nady (Sioux Falls), was born in the spring of 1944. Leo returned stateside and was honorably discharged from the Army in December, 1945. He returned to Sioux Falls with Fonda and they were blessed with 4 more children, Robert (Jana), Sioux Falls, Nancy Goodson, Torrance, CA, Aleira (Glenn) Ball, Tumwater, WA, and Gregg (Stephanie), Katy, TX. Their family also included 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Leo is survived by his two sisters, Marion Davenport, Greenfield, MA, and Carrie Jane (Ray) Talbott, Osceola, IA. Fonda preceded Leo in passing on November 7th, 2002, after 60 years of marriage. His younger brother Robert preceded him in death March 28th, 2013. Leo and Fonda spent over 30 years working together leading the S.E. Gustafson Construction Company. They built roads and airports in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota before retiring in the mid-1980's. After retiring they pursued several hobbies but their number one priority was to have extended family gather for an annual reunion. For the past 30 years, from South Carolina to California, from Minnesota to Texas, the family gathered annually for a week to reconnect, refresh, and enjoy time together. Visitation will be 5-7 pm Tuesday at Chapel Hill Funeral Home. Funeral will be 11 am Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Sioux Falls.