Surrounded by his family and friends, the patriarch of our family, Leland Poppleton Gunnell, 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Mt. Sterling, Utah on Sunday, July 11, 2004.

He was born in Wellsville, Utah on August 5, 1919 to William Jeffs and Annie Poppleton Gunnell, the seventh of nine children.

He attended schools in Wellsville and Hyrum. He married his high school sweetheart, Edith Parker, on November 21, 1939 in the Logan Temple. They are the parents of six sons and one daughter; Vernen (Kathleen) Gunnell of Hyrum, Judy Lynne (Kent) Jenson of Mt. Sterling, L. Paul (Merlynn) Gunnell of Woodruff, Idaho, Wayne Gunnell, (deceased), Lyle (Julie) Gunnell of Hartland, Wisconsin, Gaylen Gunnell of Wellsville, Nolan (Pam) Gunnell of Mt. Sterling and a foster son, Joe Chiquito.

Leland and Edith lived and worked in various places in Southern California where he became a skilled welder. After the outbreak of World War II, Leland, his brother Francis and sister Emma, served in the European Theatre, participating in the Battle of the Bulge. His younger brother, Grant, served in the PacificTheatre. After the Armistice, Leland helped in the repatriation of the POW’s.

Upon his return, he and Edith, with their young family, lived in Mt. Pleasant, Utah and Montpelier, Idaho. In 1948, Leland and Edith purchased the Parker family farm. Over the years, with stubborn determination and a great work ethic, they had one of the very successful dairy operations in the south end of Cache Valley.

They later purchased the Six Mile Ranch near Malta, Idaho where Leland had grown up as a youth. He also worked as a welder for twenty years for LeGrand Johnson Construction Co. He was a skilled welder, an outstanding dairyman, farmer, rancher and devoted husband and father.

He was active in the LDS Church, serving in the priesthood quorums, Old Folks Committee and a staunch contributor to the missionary program, having supported six sons and helped with nine grandchildren. His life was one of service to family and friends. He loved helping people.

He is survived by six children, 28 grandchildren (three deceased), 38 great-grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Rex Zobell and Lyman Parker, one sister-in-law, Erma (Perl) Parker. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and his siblings; William Gunnell, Emma (Gunny) Gunnell, Ann (Marvin) Jacobsen, Stennett Gunnell, Laura (Vance) Smith, Francis and Ona Gunnell, Grant Gunnell and Bernice (Rex) Zobell.

Funeral services are scheduled at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 16, 2004 at the Wellsville 5th Ward Chapel, 660 South 100 West, Wellsville. A viewing will be held Thursday evening, July 15, 2004 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan, and at the church from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services.

The family expresses their gratitude and appreciation for the special care given to our dad by dedicated care givers, Ryan and KaDawn Webb, James and Janice Anderson, Josh and Anna Jones, the CNA’s and the Hospice staff. Their gentle, professional and loving care will always be remembered. The family is also appreciative of wonderful neighbors and friends in the Malta-Bridge, Idaho and Wellsville-Mt. Sterling areas.

Burial will be in the Wellsville cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the LDS Missionary Fund or the Perpetual Education Fund. Condolences at Allen-Hall Mortuary.