Leon J. Corkery (1923-2021)

CORKERY, STAEBEL, DINGMAN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:08

MOLINE-Leon J. Corkery, 97, of Moline, died Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, at Friendship Manor, Rock Island.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3209 60th St., Moline. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at Rafferty Funeral Home, 2111 First Street A, Moline, Ill. 61265, with a Christian wake service at 7 p.m. The family will also greet visitors at the church one hour before the funeral.

Leon was born Aug. 5, 1923, on the family farm in Fairbank, Iowa, the son of Charles (J.C.) and Margaret (Staebell) Corkery. He lived there until enlisting in the Army during World War II. He served from 1944-1946 in the 1636th Engineering Construction Battalion in France, Germany, the Philippines and Japan.

He married Ruth Dingman in Fort Madison, Iowa, on Sept. 25, 1949. He attended Iowa State in Ames on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1950 as an agricultural engineer. In that year, he joined the John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline where he was employed as an engineer until his retirement in 1984.

His survivors include four sons and five daughters-in-law: Patrick and Margaret Corkery, Littleton, Colo.; John and Dara Corkery, Gillette, Wyo.; Joseph Corkery and Margaret Lukens, Burlingame, Calif.; Cynthia Corkery, Moline; and Daniel and Victoria (Tori) Corkery, Urbana. Also surviving are six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, two great-granddaughters and three sisters.

Leon was preceded in death by wife Ruth, son David Corkery and nine brothers.

The family expresses its gratitude to the caregivers at Friendship Manor for their unfailing care of Leon.

Memorial contributions may be made to Believers Together Center, Moline, or Christ the King Church.

The family requests that all guests wear masks.

Condolences may be left at www.RaffertyFunerals.com.