Leo Herman Devilbiss
October 4, 1931 - January 4, 2021

Leo Devilbiss, 89, of Cumberland, IA, passed away on Monday, January 4, 2021 at his home in Cumberland.

Graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at the Brethren Cemetery, Panora, Iowa. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson is caring for Leo and his family.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Southwest Iowa Humane Society, Clarinda, IA


Leo Herman Devilbiss, 89 of Cumberland, IA, passed away on January 4, 2021 at his home.

Leo, one of nine children of Bertha Alice (Still) and Leo Joy Devilbiss, was born on October 4, 1931 on a farm near Redfield, Iowa. He grew up in Guthrie Center and attended school through the eighth grade.

Leo left home and lived on his own until age 17 when he enlisted in the National Guard and then the United States Air Force in 1950. Leo served 22 years as a staff sergeant. He was stationed in Okinawa for 7 years during the Korean conflict and served two tours of duty in Vietnam as an air force mechanic, retiring on July 31, 1970.

Following his service, Leo worked for Sears & Roebuck in Las Vegas, Nevada for 10 years and then was employed by Henderson Nevada Parks & Recreation department for 14 years until his retirement. Military pride ran deep in the Devilbiss family. When his father, a WWII veteran, passed away, six of his sons wore their military uniforms as they served as pallbearers.

Leo married Dorothy Barber on June 9, 1954 in Perry, Iowa. They established a home in Okinawa where son Leo James "Jim" and Richard Dean were born. When the family moved stateside, daughter Joy Ann, born in Reno, Nevada, joined the family.

On February 12, 2002, Leo married Donna Maxine (Gustin) Love in Henderson, Nevada. His family grew to include Donna's daughter Margaret Jean. Leo and Donna moved to Cumberland, Iowa in June 2002.

Leo enjoyed listening to country music, raising tomatoes, caring for his two dogs, and spending time with his neighbors and friends.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; wife Donna in 2015; brothers, Harry Devilbiss, Junior Devilbiss, Harold Devilbiss, Richard Devilbiss, and Clifford Devilbiss; and sisters, Elsie Wiggins and Margaret Ann Thogmartin.

Leo is survived by his children, Jim Mosley (Nancy) of Keizer, OR, Richard Devilbiss (Sandy) of Sun City, AZ, Joy Ann Anderson (Ralph) of Salem, OR; Donna's daughter, Margaret Love of Atlantic, IA; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother Gary Devilbiss of Missouri; and other relatives and friends.

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