- Date Of Death: January 2, 2016
- State: Missouri
Robert W. Leavene, Sr. 90, of Moberly, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2016, at Meadow Ridge Estates in Moberly. Robert was born April 20, 1925, to Fred and Mabel (Hopson) Leavene. He served his country honorably during World War II from 1943 to 1946 in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations and was awarded the following medals: the Victory, the American Area, Asiatic Pacific, Point System, and Missouri WWII. Robert remained an active member of the VFW Post 2654.
Prior to retirement, he worked for 34 years as a switchman for the Wabash Railroad and then the Norfolk & Southern Railroad. In his earlier years, he was employed by Orscheln Brothers and by Cook Paint and Varnish.
Robert married Norma Irene Maxey on September 5, 1942 in Moberly. Robert and Norma, known by many as GrandDad and NanNan, loved to use their travel trailer after his retirement. They traveled the entire country, enjoying the sights and wonders of this great land. When NanNan was elected as the President of the Daughters of the American Colonists in 1991, GrandDad traveled with her as she visited all 50 states during the three years of her presidency and he was soon known as Mr. DAC. Following her term in office, he continued to travel with NanNan to Washington DC, for the DAC meetings.
Robert is survived by his wife of 73 years Norma Leavene of Moberly. Also surviving are a son, Robert W. “Bob” Leavene, Jr. and his wife Marjorie of Columbia; three daughters, Linda Leavene Roberts and her husband Lynn of Prescott, AZ, Nancy Jo Nickfarjam and her husband Shadi of Louisville, KY, Lori Dianne Orscheln of Mexico, MO. GrandDad and NanNan have been blessed with 23 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a baby brother Elvin Eugene Leavene, a brother Howard Leavene. In 1982, GrandDad and NanNan lost their daughter Cheryl Gaye Holcomb to leukemia. After Cheryl’s death, they became very active in the American Cancer Society.
