Donald Wray Leik, 81, of Dubuque, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at University of Iowa Hospital.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Rd., Dubuque. Interment will take place immediately following the visitation at Mount Calvary Cemetery, with the procession leaving at 2 p.m.

Donald was born June 28, 1943 in Dubuque at Mercy Hospital, the only child of Herman William and Marie Theresa (Huber) Leik. His first home was on lower Kaufmann Ave. He then moved to Edith St. on Dubuque’s north end. He went to grade school at Sacred Heart Catholic School, graduating in 1957. He went on to Wahlert High School, graduating in 1961. His first job was painting houses in his neighborhood at age 14. He then got a job at White Bear Typewriter Exchange repairing typewriters. When he turned 18 he got a job with Illinois Central Railroad. He worked there for 9 years. He served in the Iowa National Guard from 1965 to 1970. He also worked part time at Marty’s Service Station on 5th and Locust from 1966 until about 1990. In the fall of 1969 he started at Dubuque John Deere Works, where he worked until his retirement in 2000.

Donald married Diane Gassman on April 16, 1966. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Donald (Amy) Leik Jr., and Tina (Bob) Connolly, both of Dubuque, and Kevin (Suzanne Highet, of Portland, OR; grandchildren, David (Jelena) Leik, Maria (Zach) Grissom, Kellie (Fiancé Braden Daniels) Connolly, Benjamin Leik, Miranda McCaffery, Aaron Connolly, Robert Kaiser, Zoe Leik, and Jackie Kaiser; great-grandchildren Jude and Blair Grissom; many sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and a large extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents.