Obituary of Leon John Mullis

Leon J. “Sonny” Mullis, 85 of Dyersville, Iowa formerly of La Porte City, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at MercyOne Dyersville Senior Care.

Visitation will be held from 3 - 8 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024 at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville.  Visitation will continue at Kramer Funeral Home from 9 – 10:30 a.m. prior to funeral mass.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Philip Agyei will officiate.

Leon was born on August 15,1938 in Cascade, Iowa, the son of George and Hazel (Hoffmann) Mullis.  He married Wilma Lansing on April 8, 1961 in Dyersville, Iowa.  She preceded him in death in 1991.  Leon later married Betty (McDowell)Satterlee on April 6, 1996 in Manchester, Iowa.

Leon worked hard all through life, starting on the farm after 8th grade when his father was injured and needed assistance. From then on, hard work became the refrain of his life, often taking on additional jobs to help provide for his family. A fond memory showing Leon’s care for his family was when he went to have his worn-out work boots resoled so that he didn’t have to buy a new pair, but rather let that money be used for his kids.

Leon was known for having broad shoulders, but he needed them.  He had to endure the passing of his son Dennis, in 1964, and later, his son Jeffrey, who passed in 1970.  Both less than a year old along with a daughter at birth. Despite this hardship, Leon was able to continue to grow and raise a family.

Words we think of when reflecting on Leon are honesty and integrity. “Do what is right, even when no one is looking.”

Survivors include his wife, Betty; children: Joann Mullis and Michael (Nicole) Mullis of Dyersville, Michelle (Jeff) Eilers of Guttenberg. Kevin (Amy) Mullis of Flower Mound, TX, Tammie (Mike) Dirks of Des Moines, Tina Laurie of Springville, Sheri Seaton of Brooklyn and Marty (Dacia) Satterlee of La Porte City; grandchildren: Ryan Eilers, Cole Mullis, Connor and Maxton Mullis, JJ Wulfekuhle, Christine Napoli, Michael Wulfekuhle, Cody and Tianna Seaton, Anthony Gagliardi, Kerrigan and Kellen Satterlee; great grandchildren: Dawson, Collins, Trey Wulfekuhle; siblings: Nancy Heaverlo and Dorothy (Loras) Steffen of Cedar Rapids, Ruth (Joe) Meyers of WI, Lester “Butch” (Jo) Mullis of OR, Roger (Rita) Mullis of Manchester, and Carla (Jeff) Peterson of TN; in-laws: Verna (LeRoy) Bries of Garnavillo, Jerome (Mary Margaret) Lansing, Rita Lansing, and Bernice Lansing of Dyersville, William (Joan) Lansing of Worthington, Patty Atwater of Manchester, David (Sheila) McDowell of WA state, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Wilma, children: Steven Mullis, Dennis and Jeffery Mullis in infancy; in-laws: Joe and Ruth Lansing, Art Lansing, John Lansing, Catherine and Hugo Engelken, Richard McDowell, Kenny Atwater, and Earl Iben.

The family would like to thank Dubuque Hospice and MercyOne Dyersville Senior Care for their compassionate and loving care.