Services will be held on Monday, April 7 at First Congregational church, 312 W. Main street in Marshalltown, at 11:00am with visitation beginning one hour prior. Lunch at the church will follow services. Burial at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens following lunch.

Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown has been entrusted with the care of Leta and her family. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Memorials in Leta’s name may be directed to The Iowa River Hospice Home, or First Congregational Church in Marshalltown, IA.

Leta Grace Palmer was born on March 3, 1938 to Harold and Grace (Chenoweth) Palmer in Grinnell, Iowa. She grew up on the farm and attended schools in Newburg and Gilman, graduating from Gilman high school with the class of 1956. The day after graduation she began her work career at Marshalltown Manufacturing in a clerical position. After leaving Marshalltown Manufacturing she moved on to bookkeeping positions with Marshall Electric, Crescent Electric, and in March of 1977 went with Chuck Kilstrom when he opened Electric Supply of Marshalltown. Her retirement from Electric Supply was a tough decision because she considered the Kilstroms and other coworkers her second family.

Leta married her high school sweetheart, Gene Lacina, on March 3, 1957 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Together they lived in Marshalltown and raised their five children. Over the years they welcomed son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws into the family as well as grandchildren. They were together for 32 years until Gene's untimely death at age 51 due to colon cancer. A year after Gene's death, his brother Edwin moved back to Iowa and asked Leta to share a home with him in Gladbrook. Together they enjoyed small town life, trips to Branson and traveling to Virginia and Maine to visit Edwin's family. They were together for 26 years until Edwin's death in 2016. Ready for a new chapter, Leta moved to the Embers in Marshalltown. There she developed many friendships and enjoyed social activities, playing cards, making crafts and was treasurer of the Residents board. Her decline in health prompted a move to Creekside Assisted Living in Grundy Center. She became close friends with many of her caregivers and truly appreciated their loving care. A further decline brought her to the Iowa River hospice home for her final days. She received excellent comfort care and was able to say her goodbyes to all of her children.

Left to honor her memory are her children, Kelley (Diane) Lacina, Kayla (Don) Bogenrief, Krystal (Doug) Randall, Karla (Phil Shipley) Sperry, and Kyle (Amber) Lacina. Grandchildren and their families, Ryan (Valerie) Lacina, Hayley, Haden, Heidi and Hudson; Barry (Allison) Lacina, Henry, Emma, Elle and Hank; Tyler Randall, Charlie and Amelia; Michael (Andrea) Sperry, Addie and Ella; Derek (Kelsey) Sperry, Lilou, Cloud, Amirra, Belle and Joe; Jacob (Jenna) Sperry and baby boy on the way; Nicholas (Ariel) Lacina and baby boy on the way; Nathan (Alexis) Lacina, Alieth; Nicole (Paul) Hines. Nephew Steve Lacina and wife Cathy who Leta considers as son and daughter.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gene. Parents, Harold and Grace Palmer. Brother and sister-in-law Ralph and Linda Palmer. Brother-in-law and companion Edwin. Mother-in-law, Helen Prizler. Grandson Aaron Randall. And many brothers and sisters in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

“She's not gentle and she is not shy, and there's mischief in her eye.”

Quote beneath her photo in the 1956 The Rebel high school yearbook.