Leo Mellecker

KALONA ? Leo Richard Mellecker, 80, of Hills, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 13, at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Hills with the Rev. Spiekeremeier officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Stanislaus Cemetery in rural Hills. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the church, with a rosary at 4 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Hills First Responders, and Lake Miami Conservation. Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Mellecker was born Nov. 28, 1934, in Riverside, the son of Cletus and Rita (Rummelhart) Mellecker. He married Lois Jordan on June 28, 1958, in Muscatine.

He graduated from St. Mary?s Catholic School in Riverside and served his country in the Army. He worked for farmers and on the family farm, and also in construction for many years at Frantz Construction, Mel Green Construction and Pat Moore Construction. After retirement he mowed the grass at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. He was a member of St. Joseph?s Catholic Church, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and Hills Town and Country, and was an honorary member of the Hills Fire Department. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, fast- and slow-pitch softball, attending turkey and duck banquets, woodworking, and camping. A highlight of the year was the family camp-out at Lake Miami on Father?s Day weekend, where he would fry fish for everyone.

Surviving are his wife, Lois, of Hills; three children, Karen Butterbaugh and husband Scott of Riverside, Terri Doehrmann and husband Dave of Marengo, and Keith Mellecker and wife Brenda of Columbus Junction; five grandchildren; and four siblings, Robert Mellecker and wife Kathy of Riverside, Catherine Simon and husband Marv of Riverside, Lois Zeman of Hills, and Marcia Mellecker of Hills.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Rosie Cress.