Iowan Estelle Leinen, WWII Navy WAVES veteran, dies a month after her 100th birthday
World War II Navy WAVES veteran Estelle Leinen, of Dow City, died on May 17. She was 100.
Leinen was born in Chicago and graduated from Providence High School in 1940. Leinen was recruited during World War II to join the WAVES by Iowa native Genevieve Sullivan. Sullivan served as a recruiter for the Navy after her five brothers died during WWII.
Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, an organizational distinction made for women during WWII, was established and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942. An estimated 87,000 women served in WAVES from 1942 until the war ended in 1945; the organization was dismantled in 1946.
While serving in the Navy WAVES, Estelle met her future husband, Lavern Leinen. They were married in 1946 and relocated to Dow City a year later. In Iowa, the couple ran a farm and their business, Leinen's Produce, which bought and sold agriculture products from farmers in nearby counties.
Previously: This female WWII veteran from Iowa is turning 100. Here's how you can help her celebrate
Estelle Leinen was involved in the Dow City community through St. Mary Catholic Church, the Altar Society and the Dow City American Legion Auxiliary Post 444.
In retirement, she enjoyed reading books by her favorite author, Danielle Steele, watching Chicago Cubs games and going out for a McDonald's frappé. She celebrated her 100th birthday on April 16.
More: Remembering Iowa's five Sullivan brothers, who died together in 1942 aboard the USS Juneau
Leinen was buried with full military honors at the Dow City Cemetery on May 28.
Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowan Estelle Leinen, WWII Navy WAVES veteran, has died at 100
