Lawrence (Larry) Leek, age 83, passed away suddenly June 2, 2023, at Unity Point ICU in Des Moines, Iowa.  Larry was born in his parent's farmhouse near Blanchard, Iowa, in Page County on October 4, 1939, the son of John Reed Leek and Mildred Vivian (Jackson) Leek.  He was baptized as a young child in the New Market Methodist Church.  He attended country school through 8th grade then graduated in 1958 from New Market High School where he played football.  Larry was active in 4-H showing beef, hogs and sheep.  During the summer after his junior year, he worked for Williams Pipeline which required strength and endurance.

After high school, Larry moved to Chicago and worked for Delta Airlines at the registration desk.  His most famous customer was actress Doris Day, and he has the photo to prove it!  The call of the farm drew him back to his home community to help his dad while working as a telephone lineman, climbing poles in all kinds of weather.

In April 1963 Larry married Marilyn Price; their son Scott Nathan Leek was born September 13, 1966, while living in Shenandoah, Iowa.  Though Larry and Marilyn divorced in 1990, they remained friends to keep the family ties together in the interest of their son Scott.  Larry found his professional niche when he began working as an insurance adjuster for Allied Insurance in Des Moines the same year his son was born.  This required a move closer to Des Moines; the family lived in Adel, Iowa, for two years until they bought a home in Indianola.  Larry traveled and worked claims in the southeast part of Iowa until he was eligible for retirement from Allied.  He soon found out he would rather be working and purchased the Des Moines franchise of Frontier Adjusters as an independent adjuster where he worked until two days before his passing.

Larry was an excellent adjuster, respected by lawyers and other professionals for his knowledge of the laws that govern adjusting, for his attention to details, accuracy, and ability to handle all the various types of claims.  He was especially proficient in analyzing crop losses and was asked to consult on them.

In 1962, Larry began to serve our country in the Army National Guard, 168th infantry based out of Clarinda, Iowa. He served six months in active duty training at Camp Pendleton, California in 1962.  His term of enlistment was for 6 years from 1962 to 1968 when he was honorably discharged.

Larry was a prolific reader and took special interest in Native American books: Lonesome Dove and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee were two of his favorites.  He also read many biographies, historical novels and technical books about firearms.  As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting with Scott and their vizsla dogs.  Larry was a big supporter of his granddaughter Miranda (Leek) Huerta and her Olympic dream.  He often helped her and her dad travel to many archery competitions and continually upgrade her equipment.  Most recently he enjoyed the visit from her and his great grandson, Samuel Rey Huerta, who was then 5 months old.

He had been in chemotherapy treatment for 3 weeks for Hodgkin's lymphoma then passed away suddenly on June 2, 2023.  He is survived by son Scott Leek, granddaughter Miranda (Robert) Huerta, great grandson Samuel Rey Huerta, former wife Marilyn Leek, sister Donna Gray, brothers Rodger (Lisa) Leek and Dennis (Ethel) Leek, nieces, nephews and personal and professional friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mildred Leek, and brother-in-law LaVon Gray.  He is and will always be missed greatly.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Center Chapel United Methodist Church, Indianola, IA.  The visitation will be held prior to services from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Old Memory Cemetery, New Market, Iowa.

Memorials may be given to the family to establish and education fund for his great-grandson.

Larry's service at the church and graveside will be recorded and posted following our return from the cemetery.