John R. Leech

Moline, Illinois
John R. Leech, 79, of Moline, Illinois, died Friday, November 17, 2006, in Heartland Health Care Center, Moline.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday in Union Congregational Church, Moline, with The Reverend Kenneth Kuenning officiating. Burial is in Rose Lawn Memorial Estate, Moline. Visitation is 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Memorials may be made to the church.
John Robert Leech was born August 22, 1927, in Kewanee, Illinois, the son of Irad Leonard and Clara Louise (Boos) Leech. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea, and married Tharon Guild on September 4, 1949, in Moline.
John began working for his brother in Gilbert E. Leech Co., Moline, in 1949, as a carpenter, later becoming Vice President. He bought the firm in 1985 and served as president until retiring in 1995.
He was an active member of Union Congregational Church, Moline, and a member of the Association of General Contractors. He loved to work and fish, and enjoyed traveling and camping.
John is survived by his wife, Tharon; four children and their spouses, Johnna Jump and Beth Ann Latta, both of San Diego, California, Andrew and Nancy Leech of Moline, and Lisa and Ronald Paquette of West Burke, Vermont; five grandchildren, Nicholas Latta, Jacob Leech, and Ammon, Brianna, and Ethan Paquette; a sister, Millie Palmer of Moline; and a brother and three sisters-in-law, Herbert and Ruby Leech of Cave City, Arkansas, Lucille Leech of Moline, and Jean Leech of Coal Valley. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amanda Leech, and four brothers, Leonard, Calvin, Gilbert, and Harold Leech.
John?s family invites friends to share a story about him or light a candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.