Leland G. Albertson, Sr.

Leland Guy Albertson, 95, passed away May 8, 2021 at Clarissa Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa.  Arrangements are being made for Leland at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 201 4th Ave. E., Milan.  A private entombment for family will be held on May 13th at St. Mary’s Cemetery in East Moline, IL.  Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Leland was born April 9, 1926 in Preemption, Illinois, the son of Guy and Bertha Hollowell Albertson.  Leland entered service with the Army Air Force in 1945 as a B-17 tail gunner.  He was awarded silver aerial gunner’s wings at the Kingman, Arizona airfield before for being stationed overseas in occupied Erding, Germany.  After Germany’s surrender, he flew photography missions on a B-29 and trucked German civilian employees to the air base before returning home from WWII in 1946.  He met Katie (Viola) Wilder in Rock Island and they married in Mountain Home, Arkansas on December 10, 1947.  During their 72 years of marriage, Leland loved to dance and bowl with Katie.  He also enjoyed making wood crafts, working in his yard, music, fishing, and spending time with his family. He worked in the Quad Cities for Alcoa and Case before retiring from Eagle Signal with 31 years of service.  Leland then worked for Ridgecrest Retirement Village until becoming a cancer survivor at age 65.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Leland Jr. of Rock Island, IL; daughter-in-law, Marla Albertson of Texas; twin brothers, Harold and Harlan Albertson; sisters, Norma Wangelin and Margie Souza; grandchildren, Rick and Sara Albertson of Ankeny, IA, William and Crista Albertson of Alpharetta, GA, Andrew and Emily Albertson of Galva, IL, Alan and Erin Randall of Moline, IL, John and Kelly Banik of Kerrville, Texas; 17 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Katie in December of 2019; a son, Richard Albertson; a great grandson, Landry Albertson; and siblings, Glen, Lloyd, Doris Mader, Hazel Holloway, Gertrude “Gertie” Carey, and Helen Brown.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leland G. Albertson, Sr., please visit our floral store.