Leon L. Kurt, 82, of Cascade, Iowa, passed away Monday, April 1, 2019 at his home after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Friends and relatives of Leon may call from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m., and a KC Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m.   Friends may also call after 9 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

Services for Leon will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 6, 2019 at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa with Rev. Douglas Loecke officiating. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Cascade, Iowa with full military honors afforded by the Cascade American Legion Post #528.

He was born August 25, 1936 in Cascade, Iowa, son of John P. and Lena (Hosch) Kurt. While at a dance in Worthington, he met the love of his life, Mary Gertrude (Trudy) Meyer. They were united in marriage on September 9, 1961, at St. Columbkille's Catholic Church in Dubuque.

Leon grew up on the family farm where he learned to feed livestock and grow crops. He spent his lifetime farming in the Cascade area. Leon served in the Navy, 1957-58, at the Norfolk Naval Base and spent time on the USS Joseph P. Kennedy (DD-850). Leon is a member of St. Matthias Parish, a 50 plus year member of the Cascade Knights of Columbus Council #930, American Legion Post #528, and the Dubuque County Cattlemen's Association (Hall of Fame). In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a blackjack dealer at the first floating casino in Dubuque. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, gardening, playing blackjack, watching Gunsmoke and college and professional sports. He especially loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, attending their activities, and teaching a number of them how to play golf.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Trudy; five children, Kris (Jim) Messerschmidt of Lake Zurich, IL, Kathy (Dr. David) Prentice of Elgin, IA, Kerri (Bill) Reed of Newton, IA, Kim (Dr. Doug) Wong of Golden, CO, and Kevin (Stacey) Kurt of Cedar Rapids, IA; 13 grandchildren; David and Laura Messerschmidt; J.D., Kailee and J.K. Prentice; Trae Reed, Abby (Travis) Ewing, and Paige Reed; Kai and Koa Wong; Carter Kurt, Anthony Bartlett and Alyssa Grant; and two brothers, Carl Kurt and Melvin (Lavonne) Kurt both of Cascade; and in-laws, Wayne (Liz) Zumhof, Jean Meyer, Rita (Jerry) Hubbard, Clete Meyer, Herman (Sandy) Meyer, Kathy (Doug) Schlickman, JoAnn Lehman and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, sisters, and in-laws, Fred (Alvina) Kurt, Mary (Wilfred) Dolphin, Joe (Jane) Kurt, Sam (Tess) Kurt, Andrew Kurt, Herb (Dottie) Kurt, Margaret Ann (Ralph) Otting, Eleanor (Pat) Burke, Anna Mae (Bill) Lehman, Mary Lou Kurt, Mary Zumhof, Don (Eileen) Meyer, Willie Meyer and Ann Meyer.

The family wishes to thank Father Loecke and the parish staff/volunteers for their comforting visits. We also thank Hospice of Dubuque (Tammi, Heather, Amy and on-call staff) and Helping Hands for all of their compassionate care.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out to St. Matthias Parish in Cascade or to Hospice of Dubuque.