Raymond R. Leitner 1910-2012

LEITNER, WENDELL, SCHROEDER, BIEGER, BARTELLA

Posted By: j.n. (email)
Date: 11/26/2014 at 20:07:03

Raymond R. "Shike" "Shorty" Leitner, age 101

Address: Bethany Home

Formerly: 2092 Garfield Ave.

Time, day and date of death: 6:42 a.m., Saturday, February 25, 2012

Place and cause of death: at Bethany Home of natural causes

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1700 Lincoln Avenue., Dubuque, Iowa

Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery

To celebrate Ray's life friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1700 Lincoln Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa. Behr Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ray was born on September 13, 1910, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Joseph and Rose (Wendell) Leitner

Ray served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Germany. As a young man he was employed as a cobbler for John Dietz and Smith Shoe Factory. Ray was a hunter and commercial fisherman and enjoyed smoking fish. He was also employed at Dubuque Stamping and Manufacturing Company and lastly as a Horticulturalist for Dubuque City Parks for 13 years, planting everything for Dubuque, including friendship, love and humor. Ray also grew the best tomatoes every year in his garden and sold them to people passing by. Every 4th of July Ray's yard was available for people to sit and enjoy the fireworks. He loved feeding the birds that would visit his home and spending time with his dogs. He enjoyed going for rides down by the river, going out to eat with family and friends and watching the Cubs play on TV. Ray was the oldest member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Ray is survived by:
nieces and nephews: Carol Tietjen (goddaughter), Darlene Kaufmann, Harry Leitner, Ed Bartella and Tom Schilling
special friends: Ed and Linda Ehlers and their children, Mike (Kim), Mark (Brenda) (godson) and Melody (Dan)

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, Rose Schroeder, Pauline Bieger and Ann Bartella and 4 brothers, Joseph "Bump", Anton "Tony", Harold "Hetz" and George "Sut" Leitner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1700 Lincoln Ave., Dubuque, Iowa or to Hospice of Dubuque, 1670 JFK Road, Dubuque, Iowa 52001.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff at Bethany Home, Dr. Tom Schreiber and his staff, Hospice of Dubuque and to Ray's mailman of 30 years, Jim Davis and to Bob and Elaine Hagge for their friendship.