Roger Leavitt

Marcus, Iowa - Roger E. Leavitt, 87, of Marcus, Iowa passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus, Iowa. Rev. Ron Rice will officiate. Burial will follow at Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by F.I. Goodburn Post # 517 of the American Legion. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August, 14, 2012 at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. The family will be present from 5-8 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service on Wednesday.
Roger Edward Leavitt was born May 20, 1925, son of Roger T. and Bernice Briggs Leavitt. He was the oldest of two sons. As young boys they had a lot of good clean fun. On one occasion John was chasing Roger around the dining room table with a bar of soap. He chucked the soap and missed Roger, but hit the window instead and broke straight through window and storm. On May 20, 1943 Roger celebrated his 18th birthday, graduated from Marcus Public Schools, and registered for the draft. He served in the infantry during WWII. As a young man of 19 he found himself digging fox holes to save his life. He survived some of the most miserable conditions but was injured in the Battle of the Bulge. The best news he had was when the doctor told him he would be in the hospital several months. Upon his return from the service Roger attended two years at Morningside College and graduated from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. After working in Chicago three years, he returned to Marcus and worked at Marcus Lumber for nearly 60 more years. He and his brother John had the privilege of working together in the business that their father had been in since 1920, and were also blessed to be able to pass that privilege to future generations. Roger was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church for over 50 years serving on any board or committee where he was needed. Roger was active in many community activities through the years. He was director of the West Iowa Banc Corp for 20 years. He served three terms on the local school board and three terms on the AEA Board. He was a volunteer on the Marcus Fire Department for 28 years and was instrumental in getting an ambulance for the community. Just as Roger approached all his endeavors, his courtship of Elaine McQueen was no exception. He joined the choir to gain the attention of the newest choir member, Elaine. After many coffees following choir practice, Roger finally asked Elaine on a date. Within two weeks they were engaged and six months later he made her his bride. They were blessed with two children, Kathy and Tom and 8 grandchildren in the 5 decades they were fortunate enough to be together. Roger and Elaine happily celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family this last June. Kathy and her husband Henry Ford live in Waterloo, Iowa and are the parents of 5 children; Elijah, Isaiah, Michael, Saphire, and Aunrei’. Tom and his wife Becky live in Marcus and are the parents of 3 children; Sawyer, Hunter, and Payton. He is survived by his wife Elaine; his children and their spouses; and 6 grandchildren; his brother John and his wife Donna of Marcus, nieces and nephews, in-laws Carol Long, Richard and Gail Korn, and Steve Galigan. Waiting in Heaven are his parents, and grandsons Isaiah Edward Leavitt and Sawyer Roger Leavitt, and sister-in-law Nancy Galigan.