Robert "Bob" Leonard

Robert (Bob) Francis Leonard Esq. passed away peacefully on March 28, 2022, with his family present. A Remembrance Ceremony will be held on September 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Cochran Cemetery near Lacona, Iowa where he grew up. His cremated remains will be interred alongside his 3 brothers.

Bob was born on a farm outside of Crocker, Missouri to Harry Allen Leonard and Mable Mae Barr, on September 3, 1930. The youngest of 11, Bob lost his mother when he was 2, and was raised by his father, elder siblings, and loving grandparents, Will and Angeline Barr. He grew up in Lacona, Iowa, graduated at age 16, and enlisted in the Marine Corp at age 20. After 3 years of service, 2 in the Korean War, Bob was honorably discharged, as Sergeant, and vowed to never leave the U.S.A. shores again, which he did not.

Upon his return, he met the love of his life, Louise Marie Williams, whom he married on June 2, 1956, at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas. After a brief time in LA, they welcomed their sons, Rock (1958) in Dallas and Harold (1961) in Chariton, Iowa. Bob attained his BA at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa before receiving his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa in August 1966.

In 1967, the family moved to Sidney, Iowa where Bob started his law practice with G.O. Nichols, and where they would eventually run a farm and put down roots. Bob served 2 terms of 4 years as County Attorney in Fremont County and was a 50-year member of the Iowa State Bar Association, and also invited into the Iowa Association of Trial Lawyers, serving 39 years and eventually retiring in 2017.

Bob made many great changes to the world as we know it. He didn’t litigate for money, he litigated for change. As an attorney, he whole heartedly advocated for his clients and diligently worked to make things right. As a Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, he was amazing in all aspects. He was ever present, quick with wit, a little ornery, and always loving. We will be forever grateful for having known and loved such an honorable man.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Mable Mae; brothers: Dick, William, Howard, Harold, Len, and John; sisters: Corilla (Toots) Wanless, Harriet Goodrich, Ruth Butler, Anna Bray, and Ester DeVos.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Louise Leonard; sons, Rock (Christie) and Harold (Sadie); grandchildren: Lindsay (Trenton) Cheney and James (Rachel) Leonard; great grandchildren: Ivy, Wyatt, and Georgia Cheney, who will always miss their adored “Pap-pap.”