Leroy Sterk, 83 of Montezuma passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Unity Point Grinnell Regional in Grinnell, Iowa.  Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 23, 2020 at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma. The service may be viewed live on the Montezuma Presbyterian Church Facebook page.  Burial will be held in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 22, at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with the family present.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma or the Freedom House Ministry, PO Box 815, Pella, Iowa 50219.  Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Leroy Eugene Sterk was born on December 30, 1936 in Oskaloosa,  Iowa to Cornie and Minnie Van Veldhuizen Sterk.  Leroy grew up on the family farm and worked hard along with his nine brothers and sisters.  He attended and graduated from Montezuma High School with the class of 1954.   He was an outstanding baseball player.   He lost his arm in a corn picking accident and continued his strong work ethic baling hay and doing all farm duties.   Leroy married Florence Dunnick on August 17, 1957 in Lynnville, Iowa.  They made their home on their Montezuma farm where he worked hard and raised their three children, Kendall, Kendra and Kelly.  He loved International farm equipment, animals, the Chicago Cubs, the Iowa Hawkeyes, fast pitch softball and all Montezuma sports.   Leroy loved his family and was a member of the Poweshiek Cattlemen's Association, KP Lodge, Knights of Columbus, Farm Bureau, Jaycee's,  Lion's Club, 4-H, served on  the Board of Directors of the Barnes City Coop, and the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church.   He was very proud that he had won Reserve Grand Champion at the Fair with his angus cattle.

Leroy is preceded in death by his parents, Cornie and Minnie Sterk, his wife, Florence in 2019, and his brothers Harlan Sterk and Wayne Sterk.

Leroy is survived by his children, Kendall (Julie) Sterk of Montezuma, Kendra (Harold) Spivey of Waterloo, and Kelly (Kim  ) Sterk  of McCordsville, IN; his seven grandchildren, Hannah ((Dan) Stukey, Levi (Alecia) Fenner, Jake Fenner, Kyle (Ruth) Sterk, Caitlyn Sterk, Nicole Sterk and Lucas Sterk; six great grandchildren, Colton, Abbilyn, Laikyn, Caitlin, Craig and Caleb; his brothers and sisters, Dallas (Lola) Sterk of Grinnell, Leo Sterk of Indianola, Kenny (Marie) Sterk of Longmont, CO, Phyllis (Joe) Hutchinson of West Des Moines, Glen (Ginger) Sterk of Grinnell, Ruby Welch of Nebraska City, NE, and Connie (Rick) Bryan of Oskaloosa; and many other nieces, nephews and friends.