David W. Leonard

David W. Leonard, 53, of 1329 N. Sixth St., Quincy, died on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014.

He was born on April 7, 1961, in St. Petersburg, Fla., a son of Lewis Allen and Mary Jane Carson Leonard. He married Nancy Ann Carolyn Meister Bast on June 21, 2000. She survives.

David was in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany during the Cold War as a tank crewman patrolling the East-West German border.

He earned an associate's degree in nursing. He worked in the medical field as a phlebotomist, EKG tech, CNA, and RN for hospitals and doctor's offices and later assisting the elderly in nursing homes until an injury kept him from further employment.

David took every opportunity to increase his knowledge base with library resources, talking to people, sharing with others what they knew and what he could impart. He was a member of the Art Society in St. Petersburg, and held seven showings of his art at various galleries in the Pinellas County area.

David loved history and he was an accomplished artist. He will be remembered for being kind, loving and gentle. He was meticulous, articulate, and passionately prolific in art, nature study, early American history and the two World Wars. He was very knowledgeable regarding the Indian Wars and the Civil War; participating in re-enactments of these wars and collecting authentic artifacts and reproductions of the daily acts of living and being in these time periods. He studied earnestly the Native Americans, the Spanish Conquistadors, and wars that involved our forefathers, including the personal lives of those responsible for the formation of cultural and political spheres of life in the Tampa Bay area and was equally fascinated by the historical American culture here in Illinois, remarking on the development of both areas with respect to the time frames which influenced decision making. He marveled on Illinois being developed sooner than the St. Petersburg and environs which influenced his perspective on life. He was thoroughly enthralled with Western Illinois, its history and differing decisions which molded this area, making Quincy such a delightful place to live. Through his paintings of early wildlife scenes and ships, he had hoped to transport people back in time so that they could share in the things he saw and perceived about our heritage as Americans. While he was able to fulfill his dream to share Old Florida, his life was cut short before he could unravel and reveal the truly heartfelt love he had for Quincy and the history he so earnestly was researching. David was an enthusiastic modeler; building tanks, tall ships, aircraft and displaying mini scenes which he shared with the public in cultural activities while he lived in the Saint Petersburg area.

In addition to his wife, Nancy, he is survived by seven children, Michael Hussey, Tamara Jewer, Todd Hussey, Shane Prendergast, Winifred Angus, Genevieve Dicks and Joseph Prendergast; 27 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Scott Lewis Leonard of St. Petersburg; two nieces, Teresa and Christine Leonard; and one nephew, Bryan Leonard.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Allen Leonard; and a son, Nicholas Prendergast.

SERVICES: 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

VISITATION: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at 1 p.m. at the church. Some of his art and photographs of his adventures in nature will be on display.

MEMORIALS: Quincy Art Center.

ARRANGEMENTS: Duker and Haugh Funeral Home, Quincy.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.