Leo Wayne Hill

Leo Wayne Hill, 72, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Sunday morning, April 4, 2010, at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

According to his wishes, his body has been cremated. Family and friends may sign the register and pay their respects on Saturday, April 10, 2010, from 1 to 4 pm at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Lung Association in his memory.

Leo Wayne Hill was born on June 10, 1937, in Bonaparte, Iowa, the son of Homer Valentine & Jesse Edna Williams Hill. He grew up around Winfield and Wyman, and graduated from Wyman High School as a salutatorian of his class in 1956. He was also the school's star shortstop and helped them secure many trophies.

On December 27, 1957, he was united in marriage to Anita Andresen at the Congregational Universalist Church in Mt. Pleasant; this last winter marked 52 years of marriage for them. In 1961, they were joined by a son, Timothy Wayne. They completed their family in 1965, with a daughter, Annette Yvonne.

Leo's first passion in life was farming. He spent hours of enjoyment crop-farming and tending livestock. The spring of the year was his favorite; he was so excited for the first chick, piglet or calf. Despite the long hours and back-breaking work, he would stand back and look out over the farm with great satisfaction. His favorite way to end the day was to be surrounded by family and friends eating home made ice cream.

Leo's second conviction was his Painting and Decorating Service. He served the community in this capacity for 54 yrs. He was a perfectionist who tended to every detail. His clients just have to look around their home or business to attest to this fact. He was also involved in the betterment of the downtown square by sprucing up store fronts, the fountain, lamp post and etc. He single-handedly revamped the interior of the Henry County Courthouse for the aesthetic pleasure of the residents of Henry County.

Leo's third love was humor. Little needs to be said about this gift. He had a joke, a laugh, and a smile for anyone who needed a little sunshine in their day. All the better if someone could get him with a practical joke before he got them. Easter was an anticipated outing each year as he strove to hide eggs for the youth in his family. He was successful if some were never found. He had outfoxed the grandchildren with secret hiding places that would be found with an egg weeks after the holiday was long gone. He coached Little League for many years; it was all about the playing and having fun and not always about being the winning team.

Leo's fourth gift was his love for Country Music. Having sang and played in a band in his youth, he never lost the inclination for music. He played guitar and piano to the great listening joy of his family and friends.

Leo's final and greatest gift was his love for his family. A hopeless romantic who gave flowers to his wife....."just because." A consummate father who called his grown children at night....."just to make sure you made it home OK." He valued his family's happiness above his own. Due to his Christian faith, he was able to instill the morals and values to his children and grandchildren. He is the benchmark to which all of his future generations will set the bar for a life well-lived.

He is survived by his wife, his children, grandchildren, one sister, Hazel Eagen, of the Quad Cites, one brother, William, of Ft. Madison, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Irvin, Lawrence and Richard, and two sisters, Betty Elliott and Esther Dixon.

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