Robert Leavitt was born April 11, 1924, to George A and Sarah (Jane) Leavitt at the family farm east of Crete and passed peacefully at Tabitha of Crete on Oct. 6, 2020.
Caring for others and his land became his life’s work. As many of the young men of this country went to fight in World War II, Robert was needed to run the family farm as his father had just passed away. Robert ran the family dairy farm until 1980 when he retired from milking cows and moved to his house in Crete where he remained until his move to the Tabitha Gardens in 2017. His heart remained at the farm the rest of his life and he frequently walked the fields even in his 80s and helped his son with the farming for many years after official retirement. Robert was married to Marilyn (Lane) on Sept. 9, 1951 and raised three children, George, Ruth and Barbara, who was born with spina bifida. At the time of Barb’s birth, no insurance or public assistance was available to help with expenses so Robert found it necessary to always have a second job. When Nestle (Alpo) needed people to build the plant, Robert became a laborer and continued to work there after the buildings were completed. When working for Alpo, he was the person who ran the cards for the formation of the first union there, which prompted his firing. He then went on to work for George Cook, the builder, and helped build one of the dorms at Doane and the addition to the old hospital.
Many students at the Crete schools will remember Robert for his 17 years he drove a school bus, manning both the Hallam and Kramer routes and usually drove the sports team bus until in 1983 his eyesight failed in one eye and could no longer drive the bus. After that, he worked as a janitor in the school system. During all of this time he still worked the 97-acre family farm. He was active in Crete Lions for at least 50 years and was one of the earliest members of the Bicentennial Society to preserve the Crete Maples. Early on, this group collected papers and aluminum cans at the old Rock Island train depot. He helped fourth graders on their pioneer day at the Maples for many years. He was instrumental in improvements at the Maples and many family artifacts are housed there. In 2006, he received the Sertoma Service to Mankind award.
He has been a lifetime member of the United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church in Crete. His family first came to Crete in 1882 because of Doane College (University) that had been affiliated closely with the church. He, Marilyn and others were instrumental in the beginning of the smorgasboard at the church which was a fundraiser for many years. Robert and Marilyn, who met at a square dance, enjoyed continuing this activity on into married life. After retirement, Robert enjoyed traveling with Marilyn and daughter, Barb, in the summers. They frequented national parks and visited most of the 48 continuous states and Canada.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William; wife of 55 years Marilyn; and daughter, Barb. He is survived by son, George A. (BJ); daughter, Ruth Albrecht (David); grandchildren, Diane McMurray (PJ), Denise Rolfsmeier (Ryan), Debra Evans (John), George T(Tom) Leavitt (Carmen), Sarah Gardner (Tyler), Randy Albrecht (Audrey); great-grandchildren, Marie and Zac Rolfsmeier, Sean and Molly McMurray, Victoria and Grayson Leavitt and Hailey and Riley Albrecht.
Memorial contributions are suggested to United Church of Christ, First Congregational in Crete. Graveside services were Oct. 10 at Riverside Cemetery in Crete. Condolences may be left for the family at www.kunclfh.com.
