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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication online and in the newspaper the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
James 'Jim' Delon Leonard
JAMES "JIM" DELON LEONARD
Cedar Rapids
James "Jim" Delon Leonard, 84, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, at The Views of Marion. A visitation will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The funeral service will begin at
6 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.
Jim was born Nov. 10, 1937, to Ervin and Mildred (Boster) Leonard in Emmetsburg, Iowa. He married Kathleen (Kathy) Kinney on Feb. 11, 1962, in Perry, Iowa. Jim was truly a self-made man, working his entire career in sales. He started with Capitol Records and subsequently worked for multiple real estate companies, including Gibson Realtors and Skogman Realty until his retirement in 2019. Working in real estate for 51 years total, he earned Realtor Emeritus status. Jim served as a Noble in the El Kahir Shrine and was a Mason of the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Masonic Center.
It brought Jim joy to help others. He loved helping people find their dream homes and lending a hand or act of service when needed. He also enjoyed spending time with family. He was steadfast in following his kids' events, activities and careers, and enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes, Las Vegas, cars, music, yardwork, cooking, bowling and playing cards.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; children, Steve (Diane) Leonard and Kristi Leonard (Terry Oliphant); brother, Nick (Debbie) Leonard; and cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; two children, Scott and Greg; siblings, Beryl (Ray) Keller, Dalton Leonard, Helen (Barney) Hoffman and Janith (Ray) Overbeck; pseudo parents, Peg and Jack Bittner; and pseudo siblings, Dick (Joan) Bittner, Don (Rose) Bittner, Sally Moxley and Jim (Lois) Bittner.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for James Leonard, under the video tab starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022.
