Leon Peter McDevitt

MCDEVITT OWENS LAUGHLIN MURPHY BRADLEY DUNLAVEY

Posted By: judianne (email)
Date: 5/11/2017 at 02:38:52

Leon P. "Mac" McDevitt: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Clinton Herald (IA) - Friday, February 11, 2011
Quad-City Times, The (IA) - Friday, February 11, 2011

Deceased Name: Leon P. "Mac" McDevitt

DeWitt — Leon P. "Mac" McDevitt died on February 9, 2011, after a short illness with lung cancer. He passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family at his side, like leaves around a tree. Memorial services and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Anthony Church, 417 Main Street Davenport, Iowa, on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. There will be an additional visitation Monday morning at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at the National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois. The American Legion Post #26 will provide military honors. A visitation will be held at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main Street, Davenport, Iowa, on Sunday, February 13, 2011 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. There will be a prayer service at 4:30 p.m.

Mr. McDevitt was born on June 19, 1931, to Raymond and Josephine (Owens) McDevitt in Clinton, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Clinton. During high school, he played 4 years of varsity football, earning All-Conference at Guard from 1947-49. After graduation, he served his country during the Korean War, first with 1 1⁄2 years in the United States Naval Reserve, then for 4 years of active duty in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed in North Africa as part of Early Warning Radio/Radar, then with Strategic Air Command (SAC) Fighter/Bomber Squadron.

After his military service, Mr. McDevitt graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Education from Saint Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, and later he earned his Master's Degree in School Administration from the University of Iowa. He then went on to work for the Davenport School District for 34 years, the majority of which was spent as principal of Wilson, simultaneously at Hayes and Roosevelt, and then Monroe Elementary schools, retiring in 1993. He developed many friendships with fellow administrators, teachers, staff, and former students, all of which he cherished dearly.

Leon was a member of the Knights of Columbus #532, Davenport, Iowa, the American Legion Post # 26, the Saint Ambrose and University of Iowa Alumni Associations and the Davenport Retired Principals Association.

Dad was an avid sports enthusiast, especially for his beloved Saint Louis Cardinals, and Notre Dame and Iowa football. One of his greatest thrills was being invited to sit on the Notre Dame bench during the 1958 game between the Fighting Irish and the University of Iowa at Kinnick Stadium! He also dearly loved the land of his ancestry, Éire. He was an Irishman through and through! Another cherished memory he had was when his son Thomas arranged for them to travel to "the old country" and visit Ireland. They were fortunate enough to visit the Shrine to Our Lady of Knock.

Survivors include his daughter, Lynn Marie, and son Robert, both of Davenport; sons, Thomas, Arvada, Colorado, Brian, Bettendorf, Iowa; 3 grandchildren, Benjamin, Stephanie and Adrian; sisters, Margaret Mary (Frett) and Therese (Donahue), both of Clinton; brother, Aloysius, Fairview Park, Ohio, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Alice, San Francisco, and a brother Patrick, Davenport.

Memorials may be made to the family, Saint Anthony Catholic Church or Genesis Hospice. As dad always believed:

Old Irish Blessing:
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
The sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand."

Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Mr. McDevitt's obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. Death date: Feb. 9, 2011