Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Leon Anthony Werthmann, 82, a resident of Davenport, will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 3, 2010, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Visitation will be Friday, July 2, from 3-6 p.m. at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home.The Legion of Mary will lead the rosary at 3 p.m. to begin the visitation. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Leon died June 30, 2010, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House following a sudden illness.
Memorials may be made to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.
Leon was born July 8, 1927, the eldest son of Sebastian and Mabel (Hoese) Werthmann. He worked on the family farm and attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Davenport Central High School. The daily walk from the farm to the school was occasionally challenging as evidenced by the time he and his siblings once ice skated down Hickory Grove Road to get to school. He left high school early in order to enlist in the Navy during World War II. He used to say he’d done plenty of walking already and volunteered for the Navy in order to avoid being drafted in the Army. After the war, he went to Iowa State University for two years where, as he would tell, he just couldn’t pass biochemistry. Returning to Davenport, he met and married the former Yvonne Alida Van De Sompele in 1953. Six kids subsequently kept him busy, and he kept them busy, but the chores were always balanced with lots of time for play, whether it was scouting or hunting or roller skating or skiing or any one of countless indoor and outdoor activities. He worked for Oscar Mayer 1952-1983 as an electrician before a heart attack left him medically retired. Despite his condition, he continued one of his favorite summer activities: riding RAGBRAI — the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. For Leon, taking a break, or even a drink of water, was never an option during RAGBRAI. Depart before dawn, arrive before noon, nap in the 100+ degree tent. Repeat the next day.
For 26 years, daily Mass has been central to Leon’s life despite all forms of weather. Obviously, the practice he’d received in his youth with rough commutes paid off tremendously.
Leon is survived by his wife, Yvonne, and six children, Monica Murphy and Scott Miller, Dewitt; Mark and Mary Lou Werthmann, Boise, Idaho; Theresa and John Grabosch, Blue Grass; Jeff and Julia Werthmann, Easton, Kan.; Ken and Deb Werthmann, North Ogden, Utah; and Angie Lovig, Murphy, Texas; and grandchildren Chris, Kevin and Colleen Murphy, Anne Marie Werthmann, Mike and Shane Grabosch, Madeline Werthmann, Matt Werthmann and Angie Ashton, Erica and Zak Lovig and four great-grandchildren Austin, Owen, Nicole and Olivia. He is also survived by eight of his nine siblings: Joan and Art Hostens, Bernard and Noreen Werthmann, Elayne and Larry Lyons, Roger and Marilyn Werthmann, Jerome and Betty Werthmann, Barbara and Julius McCormick, Geraldine Kreusch, and Madonna and Don Nelson. He was preceeded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Crews, and a brother-in-law Dr. Jerry Kreusch. May they rest in peace. Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Leon’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com
