Derek Leichtman
February 5, 1992 ~ September 22, 2019
Derek Clement Leichtman age 27 of New Hampton, IA, died Sunday, September 22, 2019, at his home.
A private family funeral service will be held at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory in New Hampton with Andy Hugeback, funeral celebrant presiding. Burial will be in the New Hampton City Cemetery.
Derek Clement Leichtman was born in Charles City, IA, on February 5, 1992, the son of Kurt and Sue (Michaelis) Leichtman. He received his education in New Hampton and was a 2010 graduate of the New Hampton High School. Immediately after graduation Derek enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served as a sergeant working in aviation electronics and stationed in Qatar and Turkey near the Syrian border. He was honorably discharged in March 2018. He was most recently employed by Bodensteiner Implement in New Hampton where he loved his job, working on Hagie Sprayers and ‘turning a wrench’ where needed.
Derek is survived by his parents, Kurt & Sue Leichtman of New Hampton; one sister, Cody Leichtman of New Hampton; three aunts, Deb Michalis Cornwell of Sun City West, AZ, Diane Michaelis of Clear Lake, IA, Julia Herron of Lenexa, KS; two uncles, Kim (Rose) Leichtman, Dennis Leichtman, all of New Hampton.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Kenneth & Doris Leichtman; maternal grandparents, George and Geneva Michaelis; two uncles, Ted Leichtman and Craig Leichtman.
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Kurt & Sue & Family We are so so Sorry for your loss May your Precious Memories comfort you now and in the difficult days ahead. Please know your in our Thoughts & Prayers Love Don & Ruth Rowe
Kurt, Sue and family, We are so very sorry for your loss. You are all in our thoughts.
Our Deepest sympathy Kurt and Sue and family
Kurt , Sue and family you have our deepest sympathy!
Derek was a great mentor and an awesome friend. Kept in touch almost weekly ever since he got out of the Marine Corps. While I worked with him, we’d either go to the range skeet shoot, check out a gun show, or go to a friends house and play cards drink and tell stories while listen to Bryan Adams. I never felt skeptical towards him, I looked at him as someone I could relate too considering we ended up the same place together. The last time we hung out was just a couple of days prior to him getting out and living free, kept talking about how he was excited to move back home. I’d tell him about everything going on with me, he’d send me a video of him driving on the farm with a beer. Nice to know not much has changed. But regardless of the circumstances though. I’m glad I’ve met him and called him a friend. With heavy hearts but strong hope, his memories will never perish.
Kurt Sue & family, My deepest sympathy and prayer’s.
Derek was my Sgt when I first got to Cherry Point. Now there weren’t any other girls in our platoon and none of the other guys really had a clue on how to lead a female Marine. So Sgt Leichtman arose to the challenge! He took me under his wing immediately. He taught me what it was to be a good Marine, but also, a good person in general. I remember always being so impressed on how much he cared for others and how much he genuinely wanted everyone to do well. When he picked up the rank of Sgt, he gave me his Cpl chevrons that he deployed with. I always figured that he would be able to see me getting pinned to Cpl in those same chevrons. Since he got out, without fail, he made sure to message me monthly to check on me or to just tell jokes about how I hadn’t picked up the next rank yet. Even though he won’t be here physically, I know he’ll be looking after all of us from up there. Till Valhalla & Semper Fidelis brother.
May his memories console you in the days ahead. Our prayers to his family. Jeanne and David Roder
My deepest condolences. Although I never had the privilege of meeting your son I knew of him through my daughter. Your son was very special to my daughter who she had met in the Marines and was her sergeant. He helped her get through some dark days and was a mentor to her. For that I will always be grateful to him. My prayers are with you all and we are very saddened to hear of his passing. He was one of the good ones.