Leonard R. Davenport

Leonard R. Davenport, age 67, of Albion, IA, passed away on Monday, February 11, 2019, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines.          Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 19th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Tama with full military honors provided by the combined American Legion and VFW posts in the Marshalltown area. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be directed in Leonard’s name to his family which will be later designated elsewhere. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com . Ph. 641-844-1234.          Leonard was born on October 27th, 1951, to James A. and Betty J. (Mott) Davenport, Sr. in Marshalltown, IA. Leonard attended Marshalltown Community Schools and during his senior year, quit school to volunteer for the draft. He received his GED while in the army for the first time from 1970-1972. He was sent to Viet Nam from September 1970 – September 1971. Leonard was assigned to the 23rd Infantry “AMERICAL” Division. Among his awards were the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal Combat Infantry Badge, Rifle Medal and the Viet Nam Service Ribbons.          After his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1972, Leonard had various jobs until 1974, when he decided to re-enlist in the army serving until 1982. During his second enlistment, he had a total of two tours of three years each in the Federated Republic of Germany. After his military service, he worked for Ketchum Security transporting money from banks, Lennox Industries for 19 ½ years as a welder and after Lennox he worked in Grinnell and other factories welding. Leonard was employed by Gethmann Construction, Inc. for a while and other small construction jobs until his 100% Unemployable Disability due to Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome was approved by the Veterans Administration.          Leonard had a big heart and would do anything for his family and friends. He was an avid fisherman. Even after a spinal stroke on February 27th, 2015 left him paralyzed from the chest down, if you asked him if he wanted to go fishing, he was ready to go!          He is survived by his brothers Frank Davenport of Marshalltown, James (Cheryl) Davenport, Jr. of Grinnell; sisters Carol Davenport of Albion (also his caregiver and fishing buddy for the past 3 ½ years) and Lynda (Larry) Atcher of Laurel as well as many nieces, nephews, family members and friends.          He was preceded in death by his parents and maternal and paternal grandparents.