Missing Leo

Leo Price went to heaven last week. Though he had been sick for awhile, Leo’s passing was not expected. He went to be with the Lord on a winter Wednesday morning. The last time I saw him was on Saturday afternoon. As usual, he had a big smile on his face and an upraised thumb. Leo was a wonderful, jolly, friendly man, and their was always a hint of mischief in his compassionate eyes. He was over eighty, but always a kid inside. His body may have been failing him, but his will was of iron. Leo was certainly a fighter, but still a gentle man with a heart of gold, and he will sorely be missed.

Leo leaves the love of his life, Violet Jones Price, a woman of great dignity and grace, who cherished her love with Leo for many wonderful years. Theirs was a love to remember, full of smiles and laughter, of caring and compassion. She was a lover of dolls, the keeper of thousands of girlhood dreams as she collected priceless dolls from around the world. He was a lover of horses, who trained his show teams and cared for the beautiful animals with a special grace all his own.

Leo was a hero who served his country well, a decorated veteran of Korea, with five service medals for jobs well done. He loved his country and he served it honorably and well.
He married Vi in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1962, and the great romance of his life continues to this day. They are now temporarily separated by the veil between our life and the afterlife, but that great love continues. Vi, and all his friends, carry on in Leo’s stead, and their love for him has no end.

He had been a plumber by trade before his retirement to Titonka. He and his beloved Vi had worked side by side setting up and taking down mobile homes in California. It had been hard work but he had been oh so good at it. For 32 years, in and around the town of Garden Grove, California, they made that profession work well for them, before their move to their home between Titonka and Woden. Then they came to the center of the country and put down deep roots again, and Leo and Vi were loved by all who came to know them.

Leo was baptized a Christian as a United Methodist, but he came to love a little Presbyterian Church in Iowa after he joined it in 1996. It was a perfect place for Leo and Vi – they are warm, caring people, and his adopted church is known for its compassionate hospitality. Leo helped on many good projects and with the ongoing maintenance of the church. He and Vi were faithful members, coming Sunday after Sunday, praying and supporting all that the church was doing, be it soup suppers or Seder meals or plays or Mission fests, they were always here, always doing their part, as good, loyal Christians should do.

Leo loved the outdoors and cherished his acreage and gardening, and being outside. He loved his talks with friends at the local restaurants. Breakfast with friends was a daily ritual. He dearly loved his biscuits and gravy. And his love of card games and good fellowship is legendary. There are few better friends you could have than Leo Price. And what a smile he had. Won’t it be great when we see that big smile again when we all get to heaven?

We all have fond memories of Leo, and we celebrate the blessing of his life. We mourn, we grieve the loss of a dear church family member, a cherished friend. But in it all we are also here to proclaim the faith we have in Jesus Christ and how Jesus makes a difference in our lives here, and makes possible our life to come. Today we say see you later to Leo, because we are confident that he is even now in the arms and care of God, and that some glad morning, when this life is ovr for us, we will be reunited with Leo again.

Leo had the difficult month of Parkinsons near the end of his life. Then he had heart surgery. The recovery was a difficult thing, but Leo faced it with courage and good cheer. Still, that invasive disease of Parkinsons complicated everything.

But Leo gave it his best every day to try to recover for his dear love Vi, and his family and many, many friends. Leo never ever gave up, wishing to stay a little bit longer with his dear wife and family and friends and church. And his Vi fought with him, side by side, caring and sharing and loving him fully every step of the way in a most difficult of journeys. It was an amazing thing to see – their love for each other, and people’s love for them.

I have been a pastor, in one way or another, for over twenty-one years now. Leo is definitely one of my most unforgettable people, an amazing man of warmth and courage and strength. We wanted Leo to stay awhile longer, and we told the Lord that. But, in the end, God called Leo home to be with Him. As someone said, God must have needed someone to help out in heaven. He needed Leo there. We accept that – the family accepts that. But we sure are going to miss him here.