Russell Gene Leeper 1927-2012

LEEPER, ARGO, STONE, GARCIA, CHURCH, SAMMS

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 3/4/2012 at 09:17:21

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa February 22, 2012)

LEEPER, Gene, 84, of Davis City, Iowa, died on Monday, February 20, 2012 at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa. Services are pending through Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon.

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa February 29, 2012)

LEEPER, Gene, 84, of Davis City, Iowa, died on Monday, February 20, 2012 at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa with Pastors Dale Short and Max Carmichael officiating. Interment was held in the Hamilton Cemetery near Pleasanton, Iowa with Military Honors by Cowl-Scott American Legion Post #80 of Leon.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa February 29, 2012)

GENE LEEPER ... Russell Gene Leeper was born in Mercer County, Missouri near Pleasanton, Iowa on December 24, 1927 to Ralph and Edith [Argo] Leeper. He passed away February 20, 2012 in Leon, Iowa at the age of 84 years. Gene attended Leon High School and graduated in 1945.

In 1945, Gene enlisted in the Army specialized Training Program and served twenty-two months; six months of these in the Army of Occupation of Japan. He attended Iowa State University for a year and then accepted the position of rural mail carrier at Pleasanton, IA, in 1949. He retired from the Post Office in 1983, after thirty-three years of service.

Gene was united in marriage to Alice Stone on January 1, 1949, in Princeton, MO. To this union four children were born: Randall Gene, Gary Ray, David Roe and Ronald Dean.

Gene trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior as a young adult in a Billy Graham Crusade in Des Moines, Iowa. He and Alice joined the Freedom Baptist Church and later moved their membership to New Salem Baptist Church. He provided a Godly heritage for his family and passionately served the Lord.

Gene and Alice kept busy with many activities after his retirement. they delivered Winnebago motor homes to dealers around the country from Maine to California. They loved traveling, camping and visiting their family and friends. Being a "jack of all trades and master of none", Gene renovated an old school bus, named it the Leeper Sleeper and spent a few winters in Arizona.

Preceding him in death was his oldest son, Randy.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alice Leeper of Pleasanton, IA; daughter-in-law Joyce Leeper of Scottsdale, AZ; sons, Gary Leeper and wife Jo of Florissant, MO; David Leeper and wife Nancy of Blue Springs, MO; and Ron Leeper and wife Nancy of Blue Springs, MO. His surviving grandchildren are Erin Garcia and husband Eric of Glendale, AZ; Casey Church and husband Caleb of Algonquin, IL; Jacob Leeper and wife Jessica of Burlington, IA; Joshua Leeper and wife Jenni-Brooke of Midland, TX; Jared Leeper and wife Whitney of Grain Valley, MO; Angie Samms and husband Bryan of Lancaster, CA; Dan Leeper and wife Holly of St. Charles, IL; Steve Leeper and wife Irena of Blue Springs, MO; and Mark Leeper of Blue Springs, MO. He is also survived by 12 great grandchildren.