Richard (Dick) Thomas Leiweke

Richard (Dick) Thomas Leiweke, 88, passed away at St. Louis University Hospital on Thursday, June 10, 2021, in St. Louis, MO. He and his wife, Mary M. Leiweke were retired residents of Herrin, IL since 2000.

He was born on September 16, 1932, in St. Louis, MO, to Robert H. and Marie E. Leiweke.

Dick graduated from Cathedral Boy’s High School in Springfield, IL, in 1950. He continued his education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign at which he earned a B.A. in Modern European History in 1954. Dick was drafted into the United States Army in December of 1954. After boot camp at Ft. Chaffee, AK, he spent two months at Ft. Holabird, MD for military intelligence training. He then served in the Army Research Unit #7022, Indiana Military District, Ft. Myer, Arlington, VA as a Counter-Intelligence Corps. Agent (#12345) until December of 1956. From 1956 to 1962, Dick served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

After being honorably discharged, Dick began working for Allis-Chalmers in Terre Haute, IN. There, he met and married Nancy J. Britton in 1966 (div. 1974), and was then transferred to Milwaukee, WI to work at the A-C West Allis Plant, Large Power Transformer Division. There, they welcomed their son Robert John Leiweke into the world. In 1976, he was transferred to the A-C Custom Pump Division in West Allis as a domestic and international Purchasing Agent. His employment took him around the country and the world. In 1977, Dick met and married Mary Margaret Chalmers of Decatur, IL. Together, they enjoyed domestic travelling, sight-seeing, and visiting family along the way, as well as internationally, especially Ireland.

Dick retired from ITT/A-C Custom Pump, Pewaukee, WI, in 2000 with 44 years of service and moved to Herrin, IL with Mary. During this time, he loved to volunteer at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Rescue in Marion, alongside his beloved wife. In 2015, they both earned the 2015 U.S. President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award. His love of travel and visiting family continued. They also served as volunteers at Irishfest in Milwaukee, WI, for many years. He also continued his enjoyment of fishing, birdwatching, photography, space and aviation history, as well as watching sports such as auto racing, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, and Illinois Fighting Illini. He was an active member of both the National Counter Intelligence Corps Association (NCICA) and American Counter Intelligence Corps Veterans (ACICV). His greatest “bucket list” moment came on August 9, 2017, when he received a 1-hour aerobatic flight in “Toulouse Nuts”, the last original WWII TF-51D Mustang fighter aircraft still flying.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Robert H. and Marie E. Leiweke and his brother, Father Robert W. Leiweke, S.J. His wife of 44 years, Mary, passed away two days after his passing.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Robert J. Leiweke.

Memorial Gathering: Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.

At 12:00 p.m. his urn will be interred, along with his wife’s, Mary M. Leiweke, at Camp Butler National Cemetery.

In leu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.