David R. Leavitt

David R. Leavitt

Coralville

David R. Leavitt, 76, of Coralville, Iowa, passed away on Monday, February 17, 2025, at Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Celebration of life services will be held 2 p.m. on April 17, 2025, at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 2355 Oakdale Rd. in Coralville, IA.

David was born July 13, 1948, in Washington, IA, the son of Myrl E. and Birdie C. (Bonnett) Leavitt. He attended school in Washington, Iowa, graduating from Washington High School in 1966. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

David was united in marriage to Judith Kleese on August 30, 1969, and they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in August 2024.

Following college, David joined JCPenney in Lafayette, IN as a management trainee. While living in Lafayette, he served as a sergeant in the Indiana Army National Guard from 1970-1976. He continued his employment with JCPenney in stores in Indianapolis and Muncie, IN, and Cedar Rapids, IA before leaving retail.

From 1984 until retirement, David built his independent financial planning business, and he enjoyed working for the same financial planning firm with his father for many years. After David retired, many of his customers thanked him for helping to make them financially secure.

For over 40 years David was a member of the Cedar Rapids Noon Lions Club. He served as President of the Club during the club’s 75th anniversary year and was honored as Lion of the Year in 1992. He also received the Warren Coleman and Melvin Jones awards.

David was an active member of Unitarian Universalist churches in Indiana and Iowa for over 45 years. He served on church boards and committees, was board president, and served for many years as church treasurer.

David enjoyed golfing and bowling with Lions Club friends and played in a church bridge group. He had a keen interest in astronomy and traveled with family to view solar eclipses in Stuttgart, Germany in 1999 and Columbia, MO in 2017. David was known for his love of Far Side cartoons and was notorious for his puns.

In his youth, David delivered newspapers for the Washington Evening Journal and was named Newspaper Carrier of the Year in 1962. As a child, David also loved model trains and collecting coins.

David enjoyed traveling to national parks and national monuments. He visited Yellowstone National Park a number of times. He and Judy celebrated their 40th anniversary in Yellowstone with their sons and families. In 1983, he traveled for two weeks in Alaska with his dad and brother. He and Judy and their sons took family trips all across the United States and Canada, and in 1986 the family took a three-week trip to France. Judy and David enjoyed a wine tasting trip to France with friends in 1994. For many years, David and Judy enjoyed traveling with friends and to their vacation home in Santee, CA to visit son John and his family and to New York City to visit son Joseph and his family. David’s last trip was to New York City with Judy to celebrate his 70th birthday with their sons and families.

He is survived by his wife, Judith of Coralville, IA; son Joseph Levit and wife Preethi of New York City; son John Leavitt and wife Amy of Santee, CA; three grandchildren, Jane and Jackson Leavitt of Santee, CA and Druv Levit of New York City; one brother, Richard and wife Susie Leavitt of Lansing, MI; sisters and brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

David’s family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Meth-Wick Community and the Essence of Life Hospice for the compassionate care they gave him for many years.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cedar Rapids Noon Lions Club, the Unitarian Universalist Society (Coralville, IA), or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.