LJ. Leonard

L.J. LEONARD Cedar Rapids L.J. Leonard, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, on Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Public graveside services: 11 a.m. Monday, May 18, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo. Following the graveside services, family and friends are invited to a luncheon at the Eagles' Club in Tama. Papich-Kuba Funeral Service, Cedar Rapids is serving the family. L.J. is survived by his wife of 41 years, Eris; children, Brenda Leonard Lukasko, Cedar Rapids, Nancy (Mike) Purk, Toledo, Sharon Kay Leonard, Cedar Rapids and Scot (Shelley) Taylor, Tama; daughter-in-law, Rhonda Leonard, Muscatine; grandchildren, Tammy Fuller, Shawn Leonard, L.D. Leonard, Brooke Baker, Eric Leonard, Michael Purk II, Maja Campbell, Daniel Leonard, David Campbell Jr., Brice Lukasko, Marshall Leonard, Riley Taylor, Blake Taylor, Mason Taylor and Darien Taylor; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Terry Lang Leonard; his parents, Lang and Vesta (Harkins) Leonard; and two sisters. L.J. Leonard was born Aug. 21, 1932, near Princeton, Mo., and moved to Tama, Iowa, from Trenton, Mo., in 1964. On Nov. 12, 1950, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. Barnett. They had four children together and were married for 19 years. L.J. married Eris F. (Sturtz) Taylor on Nov. 24, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nev. L.J. was a very hard-working man and had owned and operated several businesses in Cedar Rapids during his lifetime including Leonard Feed and Grain, Inc., L.J. Leonard Express, Inc. and L.J. Leonard Logistics, Inc. L.J. bought his first truck in 1960 and had a passion for trucking. Over the years he was known as "Big Daddy Rabbit," "Jaybird" and "Donkey," and had traveled throughout the United States as a truck driver. L.J. was a lifelong member of the F.O.E. Club in Tama and was one of the original founding members of the Ridge Riders Saddle Club in Toledo. He enjoyed going on motorcycle trips with Eris and playing cards. L.J. was an avid fan of all sports and enjoyed reading and watching old westerns. He especially enjoyed Saturday morning breakfasts with his daughters and old trucking buddy Gary at Tommy's Restaurant in Cedar Rapids. Memorial contributions may be given to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries."