FRANCIS WALLACE “BUCK” LEEPER
FRANCIS WALLACE ‘BUCK’ LEEPER
Francis Wallace ‘Buck’ Leeper was born in Ringgold county, Iowa to William Wesley and Liccie (Tedrow) Leeper on June 17, 1921. Francis passed away peacefully on December 1, 2012.
Francis was united in marriage to May Luella Pearce on May 23, 1941 in Bethany, Missouri. To this union four children were born, Kay, Carl, Lois Jean and Mary Jane.
Francis served in the U.S. Army, farmed, worked at the packing plant in Lamoni, Iowa and worked road construction in later years. He was skilled in building and refurbishing antique furniture and loved gardening and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Liccie Leeper; two daughters, Lois Jean Petratis and Mary Jane Hayward; one grandchild, Toni Shea Meseck; one great-grandchild, Jeremiah Meseck; four brothers, Cloyd, Russell, Marvin and Harley; two sisters, Cleora Tilford and Lena Hacker.
Survivors include May, his wife of 71 years, daughter, Kay Moore and son, Carl and wife Connie Leeper, all of Des Moines, Iowa; son-in-law, Melvin Hayward of Milo, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Karen (Phil) Ackerman, Doug Albaugh, Tina (Darrell) Onken, Tammy Moore, Roger (Sue) Hayward, Kim (Bruce) Jensen, LaRita (David) Arterburn, Lea Anne King, Stephanie (Randy) Sledge, Gary (Jenny) Albaugh and Heather (Matt) Albaugh-Cornelison; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Marie Johnston of Lamoni, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund has been established to the American Legion Kellerton Post #676.
Services were conducted at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 with Rev. Jody Maxfield officiating. Recorded musical selections were ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Daddy’s Hands.’
Pallbearers included Doug Albaugh, Roger Hayward, Gary Albaugh, Phil Ackerman, Darrell Onken and Bruce Jensen.
Honorary pallbearers were David Arterburn, Randy Sledge and Matt Cornelison.
Military rites were by American Legion Kellerton Post #676 and Iowa Honor Guard Unit.
Interment was in the Maple Row Cemetery in Kellerton.
