Duane Eugene Leavens

Duane Eugene "Bud" Leavens, 86, of Greene, Iowa, and recently of Hampton, Iowa, passed away February 4, 2014, at the Liebe Care Center in Greene, Iowa. He was born on December 22, 1927, in Waverly, Iowa to Bainbridge and Ruth (Boers) Leavens. He was raised on the family farm just north of Shell Rock and attended country school on the southeastern corner of the family homestead. The school was actually known locally as the Leavens' School. He graduated from Shell Rock High School, where he got involved in sports, by many accounts, because of his strong arm. Bud also served his country in the United States Army as a Paratrooper. He returned from service and married Patricia (Price) Leavens. Bud and Pat started that life together at the family farm near Shell Rock, later they moved to a farm near Clarksville and finally moved to Greene, Iowa. Bud then bought a truck and hauled milk for farmers in the Greene area into the Greene Coop Creamery for several years. He later drove semi-truck for Stanton Livestock. He also worked as a machinist for United Hydraulics in Hampton and IMT in Garner before finally retiring. Bud is survived by his children, Connie (Darwin) Ramker of Waverly, Duane "Red" (Darlene) Leavens of Forest City, Pamela (Jeffery) Dralle of Greene, Emily (Doug) Trees of Greene, Paul (Aleta) Leavens of Topeka, KS, Thomas (Dorothy) Leavens, of Greene, and Wendell (Julie) Leavens of Greene, numerous grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and a brother Richard (Phyllis) Leavens of Charles City. After Pat's death in 1981, Bud found a second love. Bud and Ruth Bockelman Crawford hit it off immediately after being introduced by mutual friends and were married in 1985. Bud is also survived by his step-children, Patricia (Bill) Dane of Kearney, Missouri, David (Barbie) Crawford of Albuquerque, NM, Sue Crawford of Hampton, IA, Randy (Jamie) Crawford, of Rochester, MN, numerous step-grandchildren, and several step great-grandchildren. Bud was preceded in death by both of his parents, Bainbridge and Ruth, both of his beloved wives, Pat and Ruth, as well as a grandchild, Jaime Leah Dralle and a step-grandchild, Brock Crawford. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 8th at 10:30 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greene, with Msgr. Walter Brunkan officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greene, with a scripture service at 7:00 pm. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene, Iowa. The Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

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Duane Eugene Leavens

December 22, 1927 - February 4, 2014