Leo Harrison Camerer, age 86, of Hinton, Iowa passed away on Friday December 7, 2012 at a Sioux City care facility.
Services will be held at 11:00am Thursday December 13, 2012 at Community United Methodist Church in Sergeant Bluff with Pastor Deborah Stowers officiating, with military rites offered at the conclusion of the church service. Interment will be at a later date. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Waterbury Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be made at www.waterburyfuneralserviceinc.com.
Leo was born in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa on January 18, 1926, the son of John and Katherine (McKnight) Camerer. He moved with his family to Sioux City at a young age and attended Sioux City Community Schools.
Leo was united in marriage with Shirley Crouch on January 10, 1962 in South Sioux City, Nebraska.
Leo proudly served his country during World War II in the United States Navy, following his service in the Navy, he joined the Iowa Air National Guard, and was activated to serve during the Korean War. He then joined the United States Coast Guard, until his retirement in 1969. He proudly served this country for more than 26 years. Following his retirement from the service, Leo worked as a custodian for Sioux City schools, where he always had a smile for the students and staff, he retired from the school system in 1991.
Leo enjoyed scrapbooking, as well as those family picnics, He also enjoyed collecting two dollar bills and presenting those to his close friends. He also continued to stay in touch with the armed services as he enjoyed spending time with local recruiters, sometimes even taking them lunch following his coffee time at the local Hardees. He was honored to be selected to be on the First Honor Flight from Sioux City to see the World War II monument in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the Community United Methodist Church in Sergeant Bluff.
Leo will be missed by his family which includes his wife of 50 years Shirley of Hinton, his son David of Pekin, Illinois, and his daughter Cheryl Bong and her husband Todd of Tremont, Illinois. He is also survived by his sister Donna R. Baird of Sergeant Bluff, his grandchildren Roni Marie, Leo Bong, and his three great-grandchildren: Robert Bong, Grace Bong and Emily Byrd, along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Roy, and seven step sisters and two step brothers.