Robert Leonhard

Robert Leonhard, 61, of rural Marshalltown, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 1:00 until service time at 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Columbus City Cemetery in Columbus City, Iowa, on Saturday, July 8, 2017; at 2:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Rob and his family: phone 641-844-1234. For condolences or questions please visit: www.mitchellfh.com. Robert Gayland Leonhard was born at the Muscatine County Hospital on November 30, 1955; he was the youngest of three sons born to LaVerne Whiteside and Anna Geraldine (Hughes) Leonhard. He attended school in the Columbus Junction Community School District. Rob was immediately drawn to careers that required him to work with his hands. He had a long career history with John Deere Manufacturing Company. His first job with Deere & Company in Columbus Junction, Iowa was short lived due to the 1980s recession. Consequently, Rob moved his family of five from Iowa to Texas in search of work. After his fathers retirement, Rob returned to Iowa to fulfill the newly vacant position of heavy equipment mechanic for Kaser Quarry in Mediapolis, Iowa. With advanced mechanical skills, he later worked on train engines for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad in Marshalltown, until the shop closed. In 1996, he returned to working on John Deere equipment in Grinnell, Iowa. He was united in marriage to his love and best friend, Carolyn McCarley, in 1980; they later divorced and remarried in March of 2011. They had lived in Columbus Junction until moving to Marshalltown in 1994. Through the years, Rob was a member of the Masonic Lodge, a volunteer firefighter, participated with Community Players and New Hope Christian Church. In his younger years he enjoyed theatre, singing, and playing his trumpet. In his older years, he was best known for his massive garden, love of classic movies, reading, riding his motorcycle and was a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers; but his favorite way to spend his time was with his family, especially his grandbabies. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Carolyn; children: Katrina (Dan) Alman of Zearing, Iowa, Robert (Jennifer) Leonhard of Ankeny, Iowa and Mitchell (Catrina) Leonhard of Rumford, Rhode Island and grandchildren: Caleb Scott, Brielle Rose and Zoe Sage; siblings, Randall (Susie) Leonhard of Columbus Junction, Iowa and Ronald Leonhard of Muscatine, Iowa. In death Rob rejoins his parents, LaVerne and Anna Geri grandson, William Jonathon; and a very special aunt, Donna Belle Hughes.