Richard Leacox

Richard L. “Dick” Leacox, 82, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa peacefully passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2012 following a brief illness at the Select Specialty Hospital in Davenport, Iowa with his beloved family at his side.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at St. James Lutheran Church, 1705 Oak St. in Bettendorf where Dick was a faithful member. Interment will be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at a later date. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 10, 2012 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church.

He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 15, 1929, the son of Howard & Velma (Hotle) Leacox. His parents were dairy farmers and Dick spent the early part of his life working on the farm with his family. On June 8, 1952, he was united in marriage to Carol A. France in Urbana, Iowa and they farmed in Walker, Iowa until 1960.

Dick was employed by AETNA Insurance Company since 1983 and served as the agency manager in Davenport, Iowa. He was later transferred to the AETNA office in Hartford, Connecticut where he designed sales & software programs for the company until his retirement in 1997. In earlier years, Dick worked for the Farm Bureau Insurance Company in Jefferson and Wapello Counties, Iowa, and in Scott County, Iowa.

He was an active member of St. James Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and always sang in the choir. Music was an important part of Dick’s life and he enjoyed singing with the church choirs in the various places he & Carol lived over the years. He was also an active member of CASI’s “Golden Tones” singing group and was a former member of the Bettendorf Lions Club. The Aqua Fitness class at Bettendorf Life Fitness Center provided good exercise and was full of great friends.

Dick was always happiest while spending time with his family. He will always be remembered as a person who loved to garden, enjoyed home improvement projects and who was always willing and ready to lend a helping hand to his neighbors and many friends.

Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Carol; his children, Paula (Carl) Stecker of Port Au Prince, Haiti, David (Julie) Leacox of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, Eric (Lynne) Leacox of Blue Grass, Iowa and Tracy (Keith) Morling of Galesburg, Illinois; his grandchildren, Erica, Adam, Chantal, Valerie, Evan, Spenser, Riley, Lindsey, Kelsea, Olivia, Grant, Seth, Calihan & Thaddeus; his great-grandchildren, Davyd & Owen; his sister, Phyllis (Bob) Blakesley of Independence, Iowa; his daughter-in-law, Roma Leacox of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and many other relatives and wonderful friends.

Dick was preceded in death by his son, Mark; his granddaughter, Alyssa; his sister, Billie Jean; his brother, Sam; and his parents.