Obituary of Leroy J. Rourke

LeRoy Joseph Rourke, age 69 of Oxford, died Friday, February 20, 2004, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following an unexpected illness. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2004, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oxford with the Reverend Edmond Dunn officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery near Oxford. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at the St. Mary’s Auditorium in Oxford. A memorial fund has been established in LeRoy’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for LeRoy’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. LeRoy was born September 20, 1934, in Oxford, IA the son of Raymond (White) and Orpha (Larimer) Rourke. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1954. He married Joan Carol Edwards on July 30, 1955, in Hannibal, Missouri. LeRoy was a dedicated and loyal employee at Amana Refrigeration for nearly 40 years. He retired as Assistant Superintendent in 1992. He was a highly skilled and talented carpenter. He built both homes in which he and his family was very proud of. He was lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oxford, IA and a 40 year member of the Sugar Bottom Campground Bunch. His family includes his wife, Joan; daughter Gatana and her husband Mike Stoner of Fairfax, IA; son Terry and his wife Stephanie Rourke of North Liberty, IA; five grandchildren, Sonya Stoner, Brannan Stoner, Mariah Rourke, Nile Rourke, and Chase Rourke; one great grandson Ashton Stoner-DeGroot. Two sisters; Beverly Mahoney of Oxford, IA and Karen Tucker of Iowa City, IA; his mother-in-law Alice Edwards of Oxford, IA. LeRoy’s great pleasures in life were camping, fishing, boating, traveling, computer card games and gambling. He was a proud father and grandfather. LeRoy was famous for his teasing and was very proud of his Irish heritage. He was an avid NBA fan and Iowa Hawkeye fan. He was deeply loved and will be missed by family and friends.