Leon H. Starberg

East Moline, Illinois

Leon H. Starberg, Sr., 73, of East Moline, Illinois, died Monday, March 2, 2015, at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Monday at First Congregational Church, Moline, with The Reverend Craig Jan-McMahon officiating. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Memorials may be made to Papa's Helping Vets, 2667 5th Street, Rock Island.

Leon Hubert Starberg was born January 20, 1942, in Kewanee, Illinois, the son of William and Elsie (Chapman) Brand. He was raised by his mother and step-father, John Starberg. He married Karen McKay Baxter on March 17, 1976, in Rock Island. He was previously married to Jackie Jones.

Leon served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, retiring in 1981, after 21 years service. He was a correctional officer for the California Correctional Center in Susanville, California, for ten years before moving to the Quad Cities and working at the Scott County Jail. He later bartended at the Avenue Tap in Silvis, Illinois, and served as a crossing guard for the Moline schools.

He taught taxidermy and horseshoeing, and graduated from the Kansas City Auctioning School. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and motorcycling. Anyone who met Leon will miss his stories and joke-telling.

Leon is survived by his wife of 39 years, Karen; three children, Kelly (Matthew) Walter of Ramstein AFB, Germany, Terri Dove of Calamus, Iowa, and Leon Starberg, Jr. of East Moline; grandchildren, Vance and Bryn Johnson, Cody and Brandi Nelson, Courtney Parker, Braedon Starberg, and Milo and River Starberg; siblings, Sharon (Ed) Bannas of Moline, Nina (Danny) Sivak of California, Kathy (David) Morelang of Fallon, Nevada, Carol Ann Ferkel of Eldridge, Iowa, and John Brand of DeWitt, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Linda Starberg.

Visit Leon's personal tribute page to share stories, pictures, and condolences, and light a free candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.