Leroy "Sox" DeHeer Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Leroy “Sox” DeHeer, age 87, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017, at his home in Knoxville, Iowa. Visitation for Leroy will be held from 11:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at the Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville. Leroy’s family will be present from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday evening. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at the Winfield Funeral Home, with Pastor Bill McDonald officiating. Following services burial will be held at Ruckman Cemetery, North of Knoxville. Leroy was born in Red Rock, Iowa on February 16, 1930. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy at the age of 18 serving during the Korean War from 1948-1952. On October 29, 1955, he was united in marriage to Shirley Zellmer of Knoxville, Iowa. They were blessed with 5 children; Scott DeHeer of Knoxville; Mark (Sandy) DeHeer of Leighton; Wade (Diana) DeHeer of Melcher-Dallas; Todd DeHeer of Knoxville; and Valerie (Dustin) DeWitt of Oskaloosa. “Sox” worked at various jobs which included being a farm hand, a carpenter and a diesel mechanic in Des Moines and Pella. He also was employed at Maytag and Knoxville Ready Mix. Then he worked for DRS Transportation, Inc. in Oskaloosa for 20 years from which he retired in 2002. “Sox”, in his early years, played guitar in a band known as the Midwesterners, loved to go camping and play his guitar around the campfire which all the campers would gather around to listen. He also enjoyed whittling on wood, building furniture, and then got into building steam engines out of scrap iron. He also loved playing cards and spending time with family and friends. Leroy is survived by his children, Scott, Mark, Wade, and Valerie; 11 grandchildren, Tonya Lee, Tanya Smith, Nathan DeHeer, Derek DeHeer, Brooks DeHeer, Dylan DeHeer, Sara Foust, Cole Edwards, Kirsti Edwards, and Kaden Edwards; 10 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Carol DeHeer of Beech, Bill DeHeer of Knoxville, Ina (Mike) Simpson of Monroe, Jane Shore of Knoxville, Jean Cecil of Knoxville, Bonnie Wilbur of Knoxville, Becky (Larry) Breuklender of Pella, and Phillip DeHeer of Oskaloosa; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; his son, Todd; his granddaughter, Tara; his parents, Harry and Faye; his grandparents; and his siblings, Ila, Les “Bud”, Delmer “Mort”, Robert, and Gary. The Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville is assisting Leroy’s family with services.

Leroy "Sox" DeHeer

February 16, 1930 - April 20, 2017