The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois

February 15, 1988 - Monday, pg A2

LEONARD  E.  "Les"  STAELENS   -  (with picture)

Rock Falls: - Leonard E. "Les" Staelens, 60, of 705 8th Ave., Rock Falls, died Sunday morning, Feb. 14, in the VA Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa, following a long illness.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday morning with a prayer service at 10 a.m. at the Wheelock-Allen Funeral Home in Rock Falls, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Rock Falls with Rev. Thomas Risley, the pastor, officiating, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery in Tampico. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Wheelock-Allen Funeral home in Rock Falls.  A prayer service will be held on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.  Military rites will be conducted at the grave by the Rock Falls American Legion Post No. 902.  A memorial has been established in his memory.

Mr. Staelens was born on March 6, 1927 in Olney, the son of Edward and Sophia Schelfhout Staelens.  He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He was an adjuster on field fence for Northwestern Steel & Wire Co. for 23 years, retiring on Dec. 1, 1987.  He was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church in Rock Falls, the Rock Falls American Legion Post 902, the Sterling Moose Lodge, and the Northwestern Illinois Bicycle Club.

He is survived by his wife, Delores; his mother, Mrs. Sophia Staelens of Rock Falls; two daughters, Mrs. James (Laurie) Ordean and Mrs. Richard (Susan) Wessels, both of Rock Falls; five grandchildren, and one brother, Bernard Staelens of Tampico.  He was preceded in death by his father.