Iver Leatherberry

Iver Leatherberry (aka “Mr. Music Man”), age 91, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Iver was born May 21, 1921, in Woodland Township, Valton, WI, son of Thomas J. and Tressie L. (Mortimer) Leatherberry. He graduated from Lodi High School in 1939. On October 17, 1942, he married the love of his life Lucille E. Irons in Poynette, WI. They spent the first 17 years of their marriage farming in the Lodi area. In 1959, Iver left farming and moved his family to Ripon where he began his 25-year career as a salesman and Consumer Service Representative (CR II) for Wisconsin Power and Light.

Iver gave 110% towards anything he attempted. He lived his life to the fullest with all the gusto and vitality he could muster. One of his greatest passions was singing. He could not read a note of music and he never had a voice lesson. Iver was just a natural born singer whose charismatic personality and captivating voice reached out over the footlights. During the big band era, orchestra leader Dick Jurgens even asked Iver to be his lead soloist. In 1952, he formed a barbershop quartet called “The Velvetones,” for which Iver sang lead. They had sung together only 6 months when they won first place on the Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour, a TV show contest in Chicago. The Velvetones stayed together for 20 years and sang on 227 barbershop shows and various banquets, company parties, and regional and district contests throughout the Midwest. Their peak performance came in 1967, when The Velvetones qualified in the “Top 40” of 3,000 national quartets to compete in the International Barbershop Contest in Los Angeles. Iver went on to sing in 3 other quartets—The Royaltones, The Eversharps, and The Good News Quartet. He organized and performed in the barbershop quartet that sang in the production of Ripon High School’s “Music Man.” He expressed a great joy in interacting with the high school students. In 1962, Iver also founded the Ripon Harmony Kings, the first men’s’ barbershop chorus in Ripon. He directed the chorus for 7 years and watched it grow to 60 members. Iver became well-known as “Mr. Barbershopper.” He soloed for years at church services, weddings, and funerals. One of his most memorable events was singing the national anthem at the Brewers game on Ripon Night at Milwaukee County Stadium.

In 1952 he attended an auctioneering school in Iowa, and he cried many farm, household, church and charity auctions throughout the years. The success of bidding is determined by the auctioneer’s ability to engage people. Iver was a pro.

Iver’s charismatic personality, his expressive face, his heartfelt handshake and his engaging eyes that seemed to hug you, left a first impression that reverberated long after you met him. He was a devoted husband and father who loved having fun with his children whether boating, water skiing, snow skiing, volleyball or other family pastimes. His playful nature and loving devotion to his family made life seem almost magical to them. Iver filled all of their lives with so much love, joy, and happiness.

As a couple, Iver and Lucille enjoyed square dancing, ballroom dancing, golfing, and playing cards with their Friday-night friends group. They were also active members of Immanuel United Methodist Church.

Iver spent hours in his workshop creating furniture, doll houses, rocking horses, jewelry boxes, and other gifts. His sense of humor made life so much lighter and provided laughter and good times for many. He was an extraordinary human being who blessed so many lives, especially those of his family. His bright light will be greatly missed in this world and in his home!

An enduring Heart has stopped beating
Hard working Hands are at rest
A golden Voice has been silenced
A Father’s loving Hugs will be missed
A devoted Husband will be mourned

(Modified from “He Only Takes The Best” by Therese Pearman)

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 70 years, Lucille Leatherberry of Ripon; his beloved children, Linda (Tom) Licking of Green Lake, Diane (Ken) Rutsch of Menomonee Falls, Elaine (Tony) Kubicki of New Berlin, and Sherman Leatherberry of Oconomowoc; proud Grandpa of his grandchildren, Todd (Jackie) Licking of Cross Plains, Jenny (Morgan) Taylor of Nashville, Tenn., Erich (Kimberly) Rutsch of Menomonee Falls, Bryan (Christina) Rutsch of Sussex, Eliza Stoddard-Leatherberry of Chicago, and Gillian Stoddard- Leatherberry of Boston, Mass., Ben (Jean) Kubicki of Green Bay, Lauren (John) Feldmann of Muskego; a loving great-grandfather to Megan, Karley, and Makenna Licking; Chase, Blake, and Maia Rutsch, Zachary and Aubree Kubicki, and Olivia Feldmann. Iver is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Clifford and Bonard; and his sisters, Arlene and Donna and many other relatives and friends throughout the years.

Visitation for Iver Leatherberry will be held on Friday, September 21, 2012, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Drive, Ripon, WI 54971 and again on Saturday, September 22, 2012, from 10 – 11:00 am at Immanuel United Methodist Church, 401 W. Fond du Lac St., Ripon, WI 54971.

Funeral service for Iver Leatherberry will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at 11:00 am at the Immanuel United Methodist Church, 401 W. Fond du Lac St., Ripon, with Pastor Josh Pegram officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Ripon. Memorials may be directed to Immanuel United Methodist Church in Ripon or St. Agnes Hospice Hope, 745 South St., Suite 4, Green Lake, WI 54941.


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