LeRoy "Roy" Darby

LeRoy was special, straight from God's heart.

It was with him we did not want to part.

But with kind words & gestures of love,

We can be comforted here while he is above.

We thank God for friends so full of care

To make our grief a bit easier to bear.

Poem by daughter Tricia Staff.

LeRoy Charles Darby, 81, of Sarasota, formerly of Monona, Iowa, died Jan 25, 2009.

A celebration of his life was held Feb 2, 2009 at Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota.

LeRoy is fondly remembered for his strong faith in Christ, his perseverance, his generosity and, most of all, his positive outlook on life in ALL circumstances.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his brother Erwin Darby & his brother David passed away less than a week following LeRoy's death on January 31, 2009.

He leaves behind and will be greatly missed by his devoted wife of 59 years, Colleen Darby; their three children, Cathy Darby, Doug Darby and Tricia Darby Staff & her husband Eric Staff; his siblings, Raymond and Ellen Darby; five grandchildren; Mike Sexsmith (his wife Lexie Sexsmith), Jason McClain, (his fiance' Kaycie), Katie Staff, Maggie Staff & Olivia Staff; also 4 great-grandchildren; Loban McClain, Ayla, Camden & Koen Sexsmith.

LeRoy was born to Clarence and Katie (nee Sutter) Darby in Plainfield, Iowa. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Greene High School in 1945. He joined the Merchant Marine and then transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1946.

After his honorable dischard he courted Colleen Obermeier and married her on May 22, 1949. Three months later, their vows to honor each other in sickness and in health were challenged when LeRoy contracted bulbar and paralytic polio, leaving him completely paralyzed. After he was released from the Iowa City University Hospitals, he began home rehabilitation & regained some use of his body.

He later attended Hamilton College and graduated in 1951. LeRoy's 55-year banking career began as a branch manager of the First Security Bank of Marble Rock, Iowa. He also served as city clerk and established and was president of the first Lions Club; which is still active today.

In 1955, Roy and Colleen moved to Wapello, Iowa, after purchasing an interest in the State Bank of Wapello. In 1965, they purchased controlling interest in Union State Bank in Monona, Iowa, where they spent many happy years. Five years later, the Farmersburg Savings Bank was purchased and the charter was transferred to Elkader, Iowa, as Peoples State Bank. In recent years, Postville State Bank was added. All of these banks were merged into Freedom Bank, which serves Northeast Iowa. In 2007, they decided to sell the banks to the employee's at the time of their retirement.

During his banking career, Roy completed several graduate banking courses at Madison School of Banking, Ag School at Iowa State University, and School of Banking at Harvard, in the Boston area. During this time, he served as a director of the Iowa Independent Bankers Association.

While living in Monona, he was passionate about community development as he served as president of the Monona Enterprise, a community development organization, held several offices in Monona Kiwanis, was a lifetime member of the Froelich Foundation and served as pr ssident of Dollars for Scholars. His philanthropy played a vital role in building the Monona Commnuty Center, Darby Family Aquatic Center and Garden View Assisted Living.

He was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and served as memorial fund treasurer for several years. He was most recently an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota and was a strong supporter of the church's buildinmg expansion designed to faciliate the church's community outreach.

Memorial donations were to Faith Lutheran Church Building Fund as it was LeRoy's dream to see the completion of the youth and activity center.

The family of LeRoy C. Darby gratefully acknowledged all the kind expressions of sympathy, love and support offered to them at this time.